Kerns Kathryn A, Koehn Amanda J, van Dulmen Manfred H M, Stuart-Parrigon Kaela L, Coifman Karin G
Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University.
Appl Dev Sci. 2017;21(1):67-80. doi: 10.1080/10888691.2016.1160781. Epub 2016 Mar 31.
Research on human-animal interaction in children has been studied in isolation rather than integrated with core theories of children's relationships. This study is one of the first to examine how children's relationships with pet dogs are related to their human relationships (parent-child attachments, friendships) and to child adjustment, and to include observational assessment of children's interactions with their pet dog. Children (9 to 11 years old, n = 99) completed questionnaires regarding relationships with pet dogs, parents, and friends. Half the children were observed interacting with their pet dog. Children and teachers reported children's adjustment. Children who felt closer to their dogs were more securely attached to mothers and fathers, and reported more positive qualities and less conflict with friends. Children with more secure attachments to mothers, and greater companionship with dogs, interacted more with their dogs. Parental attachment and friendship quality, but not the pet dog relationship, were related to child adjustment.
关于儿童与动物互动的研究一直是孤立进行的，而非与儿童关系的核心理论相结合。本研究是首批探讨儿童与宠物狗的关系如何与其人际关系（亲子依恋、友谊）以及儿童适应情况相关联的研究之一，并且纳入了对儿童与宠物狗互动的观察评估。儿童（9至11岁，n = 99）完成了关于与宠物狗、父母和朋友关系的问卷。一半的儿童被观察与他们的宠物狗互动。儿童和教师报告了儿童的适应情况。感觉与狗关系更亲密的儿童对父母的依恋更安全，并且报告说与朋友有更多积极品质且冲突更少。与母亲有更安全依恋且与狗有更多陪伴的儿童与狗的互动更多。亲子依恋和友谊质量与儿童适应情况相关，但宠物狗关系与之无关。
