The Human-Animal Bond, Human Social Support and Resilience: Understanding Relationships that Aid Through Adversity
Date
2021
Authors
Hill, Lian Michelle
Editors
Advisors
Winefield, Helen
Bennett, Pauleen
Bennett, Pauleen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Thesis
Citation
Statement of Responsibility
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Abstract
The Human-Animal Bond (HAB) has been shown to provide a buffering effect for
stress and adversity. Based on gaps within the literature, this thesis takes a strengths-based
approach to investigating the HAB, human social support and resilience, a construct not
previously explored within the HAB field of research. This thesis builds upon previous
findings that social support is a protective factor for resilience by investigating whether the
HAB may be comparable with human social support. Given research into the HAB reported
on the complexities of the HAB and associated methodological limitations, this thesis aims to
produce outcomes based on methodological rigour and a theoretical framework that
emphasises the strength of the bond as having an impact on mental health outcomes.
Utilising a mixed methods research design, the thesis is comprised of two quantitative
studies and one qualitative study. A two-way approach with follow-up exploratory design
enhances the credibility and validity of the outcomes and improves upon the research
methodologies used within the HAB field of research. The first study of this thesis examines
a large sample (N = 538) of companion animal owners and non-owners to determine whether
the HAB would moderate the relationship between human social support and resilience, and
whether the relationship between the HAB and human social support may be curvilinear.
That was followed by a descriptive study to establish what subpopulation most likely had low
to moderate levels of human social support and strong HAB, and was therefore potentially at
risk of lower levels of resilience. Finally, a subpopulation of women was explored to
understand the comparability of their animal companion and human relationships, as well as
whether their companion animals aided through adversity.
Study One was a rigorous cross-sectional study that found the HAB was not a
significant moderator between levels of human social support and resilience for companion animal owners. However, there was a significant curvilinear relationship between the HAB
and perceived human social support, suggesting extremely weak or strong HABs may be
correlated with a reduced capacity to build resilience and process adversity. The dataset from
Study One was further explored for Study Two and found single women were more likely to
have low to moderate human social support and strong bonds with their companion animals.
Study Three was a qualitative study that explored women who recorded scores of low
to moderate levels of human social support and strong HAB. Semi-structured interviews were
conducted with seven women and thematically analysed, finding that women preferred their
companion animals over their human social supports, that companion animals provided
strong emotional support and were considered a strong protective factor in supporting women
through adversity and against suicide.
Despite some methodological limitations in this thesis, it contributes knowledge to the
HAB literature base, including alternative explanations as to how outcome measures are
interpreted, such as finding a curvilinear relationship between the HAB and human social
support (Hill et al, 2020), as well as understanding women companion animal owners’
relationships. The mixed methodological approach utilised in this thesis has implication for
the HAB field of research to consider similar research design and improve upon reported
methodological weaknesses. The implications for mental health clinicians providing
therapeutic care to individuals experiencing adversity, particularly suicidality, are significant.
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2021
Provenance
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