Collins Diane M, Fitzgerald Shirley G, Sachs-Ericsson Natalie, Scherer Marcia, Cooper Rory A, Boninger Michael L
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2006 Jan-Jun;1(1-2):41-8. doi: 10.1080/09638280500167183.
This cross-sectional study examined whether partnering with service dogs influenced psychosocial well-being and community participation of adult individuals using wheelchairs or scooters.
One hundred and fifty-two people were recruited and group-matched, resulting in 76 participants with and 76 without service dogs. Standardized scale scores for affect, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and loneliness were used to operationally define psychosocial well-being. Community participation was assessed with the 'Social Integration' domain of the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique.
Psychosocial characteristics did not differ significantly between those partnered with and without service dogs overall. However, of participants with progressive conditions, those with service dogs demonstrated significantly higher positive affect scores than comparison group participants. Among those with clinical depression, service dog partners scored significantly higher in positive affect. Finally, regardless of whether individuals had service dogs, fewer depressive symptoms and being female or married were predictors of greater community participation.
Select individuals may experience psychosocial benefits from partnering with service dogs. However, it is unclear if these benefits might also be derived from companion dogs. Further research is needed to substantiate the findings of this study.
本横断面研究调查了与服务犬为伴是否会影响使用轮椅或踏板车的成年个体的心理社会幸福感和社区参与度。
招募了152人并进行组间匹配，最终有76名参与者有服务犬陪伴，76名没有。使用情感、抑郁症状、自尊和孤独感的标准化量表分数来操作性地定义心理社会幸福感。社区参与度通过克雷格残疾评估与报告技术的“社会融合”领域进行评估。
总体而言，有服务犬陪伴和没有服务犬陪伴的人的心理社会特征没有显著差异。然而，在患有进行性疾病的参与者中，有服务犬陪伴的人表现出的积极情感得分显著高于对照组参与者。在患有临床抑郁症的人中，有服务犬陪伴的参与者在积极情感方面得分显著更高。最后，无论个体是否有服务犬陪伴，抑郁症状较少以及女性或已婚是社区参与度更高的预测因素。
特定个体可能会从与服务犬为伴中获得心理社会益处。然而，尚不清楚这些益处是否也可能来自伴侣犬。需要进一步的研究来证实本研究的结果。
