Poresky R H, Hendrix C
Human Development and Family Studies, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
Psychol Rep. 1990 Aug;67(1):51-4. doi: 10.2466/pr0.1990.67.1.51.
Pets have been shown to influence human development, but whether the effect is due to the presence of a pet or to the person's relationship with a pet is uncertain. Mothers rated their young children's companion animal bond (relationship) and social competence on a parental questionnaire, and a researcher assessed the children's empathy, cooperation, and intelligence during home visits. Significant correlations were noted between the children's bonds with their companion animals and their scores on the social competency scales as well as their empathy scores. The lack of similar significant pet presence ("ownership") correlations supports the hypothesis that the children's relationships with their pets are more important than just the presence of one or more pets in their homes.
研究表明宠物会影响人类的发展，但这种影响是由于宠物的存在还是人与宠物的关系尚不确定。母亲们通过一份家长问卷对年幼孩子与伴侣动物的亲密关系（情感联系）和社交能力进行评分，一名研究人员在家庭访问期间评估孩子们的同理心、合作能力和智力。研究发现，孩子们与伴侣动物的亲密关系和他们在社会能力量表上的得分以及同理心得分之间存在显著相关性。缺乏类似的显著的宠物“拥有情况”相关性，这支持了这样一种假设，即孩子与宠物的关系比家中是否有一只或多只宠物更为重要。
