关于伴侣动物对福祉的影响的研究既广泛又没有定论,随着研究发现积极和消极的关系。本研究探索了三个以前未经审查的关系科学概念,这些概念可能有助于澄清伴侣动物是否提供福祉益处:自我扩张(通过将新的资源和观点融入一个人的身份或参与小说,为自我增加积极内容的过程,令人兴奋的活动),感知到的宠物反应能力,和感知宠物不敏感;以及附件。我们关注的是狗和猫主人的抑郁症,焦虑,积极和消极的影响,通过对大样本人群的在线调查(N=1359)和孤独感。我们发现感知宠物不敏感是抑郁的显著正预测因子,焦虑,负面影响,和孤独;依恋是抑郁的显著正预测因子,焦虑,和孤独,和积极影响的显著负预测因子;而自我扩张是积极影响的显著正预测因子,和孤独感的显著负预测因子。孤独成为感知宠物不敏感之间关系的中介,附件,自我扩张,和所有心理健康结果变量。这些发现表明,感知到的宠物不敏感,附件,自我扩张可能在福祉结果中发挥重要但被忽视的作用。
Research into the impact of companion animals on well-being has been both extensive and inconclusive, with studies finding both positive and negative relationships. The present research explored three previously unexamined relationship science concepts that may help clarify whether companion animals provide well-being benefits: self-expansion (the process of adding positive content to the self through incorporating new resources and perspectives into one\'s identity or engaging in novel, exciting activities), perceived pet responsiveness, and perceived pet insensitivity; as well as attachment. We focused on dog and cat owners\' depression, anxiety, positive and negative affect, and loneliness through an online survey with a large sample population (N = 1359). We found that perceived pet insensitivity is a significant positive predictor of depression, anxiety, negative affect, and loneliness; that attachment is a significant positive predictor of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, and a significant negative predictor of positive affect; and that self-expansion is a significant positive predictor of positive affect, and a significant negative predictor of loneliness. Loneliness emerged as a mediator in the relationship between perceived pet insensitivity, attachment, self-expansion, and all mental well-being outcome variables. These findings indicate that perceived pet insensitivity, attachment, and self-expansion may play an important yet neglected role in well-being outcomes.