The role of attachment and loneliness in anticipated grief to the death of a pet

The role of attachment and loneliness in anticipated grief to the death of a pet

Grief

Human-animal relationships

Loneliness

Pet loss -- Psychological aspects

Baucom, Holly Elizabeth

2007

Herzog, Harold A.

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Sixty percent of all households in the United States include either or both a cat or dog. Because pets have a shorter life span than humans, it is inevitable that a pet owner will experience the death of a pet in their lifetime. However, there is usually little social support for individuals who are dealing with the loss of a pet. In this study, three hypotheses related to attachment to pets, loneliness, and anticipated grief at the death of a pet are tested: (I) attachment to pets and anticipated grief at a pet's death will be positively correlated, (2) lonelier individuals are more attached 10 pets, (3) loneliness and anticipated grief at the death of a pet will be positively correlated. One hundred and forty-nine undergraduate psychology students (96 women and 53 men) were participants in the study. All participants were single. Each participant was given a packet containing the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Grief Rating Scale, as well as a demographic questionnaire. Testing sessions took approximately 20 minutes per session. Results supported Hypothesis I: there was a significant positive relationship between attachment and anticipated grief at the death of that pet. Hypotheses 2 and 3 were not supported. There was no relationship between loneliness and either attachment to pets or anticipated grief. Women participants had significantly higher scores than men on measures of pet attachment and anticipated grief.

2014-09-22

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