The Role of Pet Ownership as a Possible Buffer Variable in Traumatic Experience. L. Arambasic PhD. & G. Kerestes, M.A., Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Psychology, 10000 Zagreb, Luciceva 3, Croatia. 1998. (Presented at the 8th International Conference on Human-Animal Interactions, The Changing Roles of Animals in Society, September 10-12, 1998, Prague.

Studies have shown that pet's companionship could help people in dealing with stress. Since pets can be regarded as a form of social support, it can be assumed that they can also ameliorate after-effects of traumatic experiences. According to Wilson's model of traumatic stress, social support is a key moderator variable in reducing intensity of traumatic reactions.

The aim of this study was to examine whether three groups of children (without pet N=173, with dog/cat N=295, with other pets N=144) differ in intensity of postraumatic stress reactions (PTSR) and ways of coping with stress.

Participants in the study were primary school children from Slavonia, one of the Croatian regions heavily affected by the war. The questionnaire for measuring PTSR and the ways of children's coping scale were administered on 612 students (301 boys and 311 girls, mean age 12.5 years) during regular school hours.

In ANOVA for PTSR one two-way interaction was statistically significant (pet ownership x gender, F.=350, p.=00) showing that girls with pets other than dog/cat have the highest level of PTSR. Boys without pets and girls with dog/cat have the least PTSR. Separate ANOVAs were computed for four coping strategies. The following statistically significant F-ratios were obtained:

  • Expressing emotions - gender, pet ownership and age (F=13.93, F=3.30, F=6.130, pc.0l;
  • Seeking social support - gender, pet ownership and age (F=99.639, F=.927, F=.607, p<.05);
  • Problem solving - gender and interaction between pet ownership and age (F=8.788, F=3.365, p<.05);
  • Avoidance - age (F=21.486, p.=00)

Comparing three groups of children, results show that students with dog or cat express emotions, seek social support and problem solve more often than other groups. From obtained results it seems that children with a dog or cat have more differentiated coping strategies, which may be helpful in reducing PTSR. This is especially true for girls who own a dog or cat and have the least PTSR.