The Relationship Between Attachment to Companion Animals and Self-Concept: A Developmental Perspective. S. Lookabaugh Triebenbacher Ph.D., East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, U.S.A. (Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Human-Animal Interactions, Animals, Health and Quality of Life, September 6-9, 1995, Geneva, Switzerland).
The relationship between attachment to companion animals and self-concept among children and adolescents ages 9-18 years was examined. Subjects included 436 students (204 females, 232 males) currently in 4th-12th grade within a public school system in a large metropolitan area. The sample included 365 Caucasians and 71 members of other racial groups, 388 pet owners and 48 non-pet owners. Attachment to companion animals was measured using the Companion Animal Bonding Scale (CABS) and attitudes towards pets in general was assessed using the Pet Attitude Scale (PAS). Self-concept was measured using the New York State Self-Esteem Scale (NYS) and The Personal Attribute Inventory (PAI) or The Personal Attribute Inventory for Children (PAIC). Data were collected using group administration of these 4 instruments in the classroom setting.
Reliability coefficients for the CABS, PAS, and NYS are: .78,.86, .82 respectively. Correlation coefficients revealed a significant positive relationship between the 2 measures of self-concept and 2 animal attitude/bonding measures (p = .001). Analysis of variance revealed that middle (grades 7-8) and high (grades 9-12) school students owning pets engaged in more activities and consequently greater attachment (p=.008) than elementary (grades 4-6) students.
No significant differences among the 3 groups were found on general attitudes toward pets or self-concept. Owners of dogs and cats at all grade levels conveyed more positive attitudes toward pets in general (p=.O4) and attachment to pets (p=.0001) than students owning other types of pets as well as non-pet owning students.
These data suggest that pet ownership may not directly influence self-concept, but pet ownership does contribute significantly to positive attitudes toward and attachment to companion animals.
