A Longitudinal Study of the Relation between Acquiring a Dog and Loneliness
In: Society & AnimalsSearch for other papers by Nikolina M. Duvall Antonacopoulos in
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This longitudinal study examined the effect of acquiring a dog using both an indirect and a direct measure of loneliness. The loneliness levels of 31 adults who acquired a dog and a control group of 35 non-dog guardians (non-dog owners) were assessed at baseline and 8 months. Results revealed that changes in loneliness over time differed for the two groups when loneliness was assessed through a 1-item direct measure. Participants who acquired a dog experienced reduced loneliness levels from baseline to 8 months and were less lonely at 8 months than non-dog guardians, even though the two groups did not differ at baseline. On the other hand, when loneliness was assessed through a multi-item indirect measure, acquiring a dog had no effect on loneliness. These results highlight the importance of the type of measure used to assess loneliness when examining changes in loneliness following the acquisition of a companion animal.
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A Longitudinal Study of the Relation between Acquiring a Dog and Loneliness
In: Society & AnimalsSearch for other papers by Nikolina M. Duvall Antonacopoulos in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
This longitudinal study examined the effect of acquiring a dog using both an indirect and a direct measure of loneliness. The loneliness levels of 31 adults who acquired a dog and a control group of 35 non-dog guardians (non-dog owners) were assessed at baseline and 8 months. Results revealed that changes in loneliness over time differed for the two groups when loneliness was assessed through a 1-item direct measure. Participants who acquired a dog experienced reduced loneliness levels from baseline to 8 months and were less lonely at 8 months than non-dog guardians, even though the two groups did not differ at baseline. On the other hand, when loneliness was assessed through a multi-item indirect measure, acquiring a dog had no effect on loneliness. These results highlight the importance of the type of measure used to assess loneliness when examining changes in loneliness following the acquisition of a companion animal.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 3445 | 666 | 58 |
| Full Text Views | 504 | 50 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 505 | 102 | 0 |