RESUMO
Objective: To investigate the relationship between attachment to pets and psychosecial develop-ment of children. Methods: Totally 147 children pet owners from grade 3 to grade 5 were selected from 11 primary schools in Beijing. They were asked to complete the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, Self Description Question-naire, Children's Loneliness Scale, and 2 dimensions of Children Social-life Adjustment Scale. Results: Attach-ment to pets was positively correlated with self-concept, pro-social orientation and living ability of daily life (r=0.47, 0.42, 0.34, Ps < 0.001), and negatively correlated with loneliness (r=-0.28, P <0.01) . Even the variables including study performance, interrelationship and socioeconomic status of family were taken as covari-ares, the higher attach group was better than lower attach group in self-concept, pro-social orientation, living abili-ty of daily life [(163.81±17.81)vs.(138.36±27.71), (46.19±4.25)vs.(40.64±6.93), (39.05±4.17)vs.(33.77±6.51); Ps<0.001] and loneliness [(28.53±11.08)vs.(34.79±10.96); P <0.01].Conclusion: There is apparent relationship between pet attachment and psychosocial development in children.
RESUMO
Objective:To examine the social support mechanism of pet ownership and pet attachment.Method:A total of 321 pet owners and 418 non pet owners above 40 years in Beijing were measured with questionnaires.Results: (1) Pet ownership showed significant correlations with physical health and life satisfaction.Compared with non pet owners,pet owners had better physical health and life satisfaction (β=0.074;P<0.05,β=0.110;P<0.01).(2)Pet ownership could change the effect of recent life events on the physical health but not on life satisfaction (Z=2.59,P<0.01).(3) Pet attachment showed significant correlations with life satisfaction.The pet owners with more pet attachment had higher life satisfaction.Conclusions:Pet ownership has significant main effect of social support as well as buffering effect of social support.They appear as the significant moderating effects on recent life events and physical health.Pet attachment has significant main effect of social support,and few buffering effects of social support.