ABSTRACT
Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have been showing significant results in human health promotion. This study aimed to develop and present validity evidence of the Children-Dog Interaction Scale (CDIS) for the Brazilian population. Items were developed and evaluated by experts. Parents of children between 2 and 12 years old (n = 118) completed the CDIS and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Exploratory Factor Analysis generated two dimensions: Affective Interactions (23 items, α = .89) and Educational and Punitive Interactions (8 items, α = .65) between children and dogs. The significant correlations between CDIS and SDQ dimensions indicated that the interaction between children and dogs could be a significant variable for assessing children's behavioral problems. We concluded that CDIS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess children-dog interactions and screen children for IAA participation.
As Intervenções Assistidas por Animais (IAAs) apresentam resultados expressivos para a promoção da saúde humana. O objetivo deste artigo foi construir e apresentar evidências de validade da Escala de Interação entre Crianças e Cães (EICC) para a população brasileira. O instrumento foi desenvolvido a partir da literatura e submetido a análise de juízes, o qual respondido por 118 pais de crianças entre 2 e 12 anos de idade, juntamente com o Questionário de Capacidades e Dificuldades (SDQ). A partir da análise fatorial exploratória, foram extraídos os fatores Interação Afetiva (α = .89), 23 itens e Interação Educativa e Punitiva (α = .65), 8 itens. As correlações significativas entre dimensões da EICC e do SDQ indicam que a interação entre crianças e cães domésticos pode ser uma variável importante para a avaliação de problemas comportamentais. Conclui-se que a EICC apresenta bons índices de validade e confiabilidade e pode ser usada para a triagem de crianças.
Las intervenciones asistidas por animales (IAA) han mostrado resultados significativos para la promoción de la salud humana. El objetivo fue construir y presentar evidencia de validez de la Escala de Interacción entre Niños y Perros (EICC) para la población brasileña. El instrumento desarrollado a partir de la literatura y sometido al análisis de jueces, fue respondido por 118 padres de niños de entre 2 y 12 años, junto con el Cuestionario de Capacidades y Dificultades (SDQ). Del análisis factorial exploratorio, se extrajeron los factores interacción afectiva (23 elementos, α = ,89) y interacción educativa y punitiva (ocho elementos, α = ,65) Correlaciones significativas entre las dimensiones del EICC y el SDQ indican que la interacción entre los niños y los perros domésticos puede ser una variable importante para evaluar los problemas de comportamiento. Se concluye que el instrumento tiene buenos índices de validez y confiabilidad, y se puede utilizar para la detección de niños.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Child , Child Behavior , Child, Preschool , Dogs , Human-Animal Interaction , Psychometrics , Behavior , Surveys and Questionnaires , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Diagnosis , Health PromotionABSTRACT
The evolution of sociality is related to many ecological factors that act on animals as selective forces, thus driving the formation of groups. Group size will depend on the payoffs of group living. The Social Complexity Hypothesis for Communication (SCHC) predicts that increases in group size will be related to increases in the complexity of the communication among individuals. This hypothesis, which was confirmed in some mammal societies, may be useful to trace sociality in the spotted paca (Cuniculus paca), a Neotropical caviomorph rodent reported as solitary. There are, however, sightings of groups in the wild, and farmers easily form groups of spotted paca in captivity. Thus, we aimed to describe the acoustic repertoire of captive spotted paca to test the SCHC and to obtain insights about the sociability of this species. Moreover, we aimed to verify the relationship between group size and acoustic repertoire size of caviomorph rodents, to better understand the evolution of sociality in this taxon. We predicted that spotted paca should display a complex acoustic repertoire, given their social behavior in captivity and group sightings in the wild. We also predicted that in caviomorph species the group size would increase with acoustic repertoire, supporting the SCHC. We performed a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) based on acoustic parameters of the vocalizations recorded. In addition, we applied an independent contrasts approach to investigate sociality in spotted paca following the social complexity hypothesis, independent of phylogeny. Our analysis showed that the spotted paca's acoustic repertoire contains seven vocal types and one mechanical signal. The broad acoustic repertoire of the spotted paca might have evolved given the species' ability to live in groups. The relationship between group size and the size of the acoustic repertoires of caviomorph species was confirmed, providing additional support for the SCHC in yet another group of diverse mammals-caviomorph rodents.
Subject(s)
Cuniculidae/psychology , Social Behavior , Vocalization, Animal , Animals , Behavior, Animal , Biological Evolution , Female , Linear Models , Male , Models, Psychological , Phylogeny , PsychoacousticsABSTRACT
The vocal repertoire of some animal species has been considered a non-invasive tool to predict distress reactivity. In rats ultrasound emissions were reported as distress indicator. Capybaras[ vocal repertoire was reported recently and seems to have ultrasound calls, but this has not yet been confirmed. Thus, in order to check if a poor state of welfare was linked to ultrasound calls in the capybara vocal repertoire, the aim of this study was to track the presence of ultrasound emissions in 11 animals under three conditions: 1) unrestrained; 2) intermediately restrained, and 3) highly restrained. The ultrasound track identified frequencies in the range of 31.8±3.5 kHz in adults and 33.2±8.5 kHz in juveniles. These ultrasound frequencies occurred only when animals were highly restrained, physically restrained or injured during handling. We concluded that these calls with ultrasound components are related to pain and restraint because they did not occur when animals were free of restraint. Thus we suggest that this vocalization may be used as an additional tool to assess capybaras[ welfare.
O repertório vocal de algumas espécies de animais tem sido considerado uma ferramenta não invasiva para predizer o distresse. Em ratos, emissões de ultrassom foram registradas como indicador de distresse. O repertório vocal de capivaras foi relatado recentemente e parece haver a presença de chamados em ultrassom que ainda não foram confirmados. Assim para associar o estado de bem-estar empobrecido em capivaras e a possibilidade de ocorrência de ultrassom em seu repertório vocal, o presente estudo teve como objetivo rastrear a presença deste tipo de vocalização em 11 animais submetidos a três condições diferentes: 1) sem contenção; 2) média contenção e 3) alta contenção. O rastreamento revelou a presença de faixas de frequência de 31,8±3,5 kHz em adultos e 33,2±8,5 kHz em filhotes. Estas emissões encontradas na faixa de ultrassom ocorreram apenas durante a alta contenção, quando contidos fisicamente ou feridos durante o manejo. Concluímos que tais emissões, com componentes de ultrassom, estão relacionadas à dor e ao distresse de contenção pois não ocorreram quando os animais estavam livres de contenção. Assim sugerimos que esta vocalização pode ser usada como uma ferramenta adicional para acessar o estado de bem-estar em capivaras.
Subject(s)
Animals , Animal Communication , Rodentia/anatomy & histology , Vocalization, Animal/physiology , SoundABSTRACT
Guinea Pig Cavia porcellus pups emit high-pitched distress whistles when separated from their mother. In order to assess the influence of the duration of a brief isolation period on whistle acoustic structure, we recorded the distress whistles of six 8-day old pups separated for 15 min from their group in a novel environment and compared the mean values of the first and last 30 whistle notes. Acoustic analysis revealed, throughout the session, a significant decrease in whistle duration, an increase in mean frequency and a tendency for a decrease in number of harmonics in the first part of the note. Results demonstrate that, throughout a brief isolation period, the vocal response of Guinea Pig pups to isolation undergoes structural changes possibly related to time-dependent changes in motivational state.
Subject(s)
Guinea Pigs/physiology , Social Isolation , Vocalization, Animal/physiology , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Female , Male , Maternal Deprivation , Sound Spectrography , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Quando isolados de sua mãe, filhotes de Cobaia-doméstica Cavia porcellus emitem assobios agudos. Para avaliar os efeitos do tempo de isolamento sobre a estrutura acústica do assobio, registramos as vocalizaçäes de 6 filhotes de 8 dias de idade, isolados durante 15 minutos, e comparamos os valores médios das 30 primeiras e das 30 últimas notas emitidas. A análise acústica mostrou que, no final do período de separação, as notas de assobio se tornavam mais curtas, com freqüências médias maiores e uma tendência à diminuição do número de harmônicos na parte inicial. Os resultados demonstram que, ao longo de um breve período de isolamento, a resposta vocal de filhotes de cobaias sofre mudanças estruturais possivelmente relacionadas a mudanças no estado motivacional.
