Hawkins Roxanne D, Williams Joanne M
Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK.
Kingseat Road, Halbeath, Dunfermline KY11 8PQ, Fife, UK.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 May 6;14(5):490. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14050490.
Attachment to pets has an important role in children's social, emotional, and cognitive development, mental health, well-being, and quality of life. This study examined associations between childhood attachment to pets and caring and friendship behaviour, compassion, and attitudes towards animals. This study also examined socio-demographic differences, particularly pet ownership and pet type. A self-report survey of over one thousand 7 to 12 year-olds in Scotland, UK, revealed that the majority of children are strongly attached to their pets, but attachment scores differ depending on pet type and child gender. Analysis revealed that attachment to pets is facilitated by compassion and caring and pet-directed friendship behaviours and that attachment to pets significantly predicts positive attitudes towards animals. The findings have implications for the promotion of prosocial and humane behaviour. Encouraging children to participate in pet care behaviour may promote attachment between children and their pet, which in turn may have a range of positive outcomes for both children (such as reduced aggression, better well-being, and quality of life) and pets (such as humane treatment). This study enhances our understanding of childhood pet attachment and has implications for humane education and promoting secure emotional attachments in childhood.
与宠物建立情感纽带在儿童的社交、情感和认知发展、心理健康、幸福感及生活质量方面发挥着重要作用。本研究探讨了儿童期对宠物的情感依恋与关爱行为、友谊行为、同情心以及对动物态度之间的关联。本研究还考察了社会人口统计学差异，尤其是宠物拥有情况和宠物种类。一项针对英国苏格兰地区一千多名7至12岁儿童的自填式调查显示，大多数儿童与他们的宠物感情深厚，但依恋得分因宠物种类和儿童性别而异。分析表明，同情心、关爱以及针对宠物的友谊行为有助于与宠物建立情感依恋，且对宠物的情感依恋能显著预测对动物的积极态度。这些研究结果对促进亲社会行为和人道行为具有启示意义。鼓励儿童参与宠物照料行为可能会增进儿童与宠物之间的情感依恋，这反过来可能会给儿童（如减少攻击性、提升幸福感和生活质量）和宠物（如得到人道对待）带来一系列积极成果。本研究增进了我们对儿童期宠物依恋的理解，对人道教育以及在儿童期促进建立稳固的情感依恋具有启示意义。
