Journal
WESTERN JOURNAL OF NURSING RESEARCH
Volume 37, Issue 9, Pages 1175-1193Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
DOI: 10.1177/0193945914545176
Keywords
animals; bonding; human-pet; mental health; qualitative research
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Funding
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council [766-2011-1145]
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Using a qualitative design, the purpose of this study was to examine how people describe their relationship with their dog and what they do that suggest this bond represents a meaningful relationship. Dog owners (N = 27) aged 19 years and older were invited to participate in one of seven focus group discussions. A qualitative content analysis revealed the presence of three themes: (a) the impact of dogs on interpersonal relationships, (b) dogs as subjective beings, and (c) psychological and health benefits of dogs. The second theme reflects the personal agency of dogs and their unique contributions to the human-dog relationship. These themes are discussed in light of the current research in the field. The findings suggest implications for counseling research and practice in improving the health and well-being of dog owners.
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