Posttraumatic stress disorder service dogs and the wellbeing of veteran families

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of spouses, children & families at baseline.

	Waitlist (n = 40)	Service Dog (n = 48)	t or χ^2	p
Spouses
Age, M (SD)	37 (8.6)	36 (7.5)	0.49	0.55
Gender, n (%)			−0.30	> 0.99
Female	35 (88%)	43 (90%)
Male	5 (12%)	5 (10%)
Socioeconomic status, n (%)			−2.32	0.028
Comfortable	22 (55%)	13 (27%)
Just enough to make ends meet	15 (38%)	30 (62%)
Not enough to make ends meet	3 (8%)	5 (10%)
Education, n (%)			0.03	0.60
Some high school	0 (0%)	1 (2.1%)
High school/GED	9 (22%)	6 (12%)
Some college	11 (28%)	17 (35%)
2-Year degree	5 (12%)	6 (12%)
4-Year degree	9 (22%)	14 (29%)
Post-graduate Degree	6 (15%)	4 (8.3%)
Race/Ethnicity, n (%)			0.16	0.81
BIPOC	14 (35%)	14 (30%)
Not BIPOC	26 (65%)	33 (69%)
Unknown	0 (0%)	1 (2%)
VA caregiver, n (%)	5 (12%)	9 (19%)	−0.80	0.56
Relationship status, n (%)			−0.17	0.85
Living with significant other	3 (8%)	5 (10%)
Married	37 (92%)	42 (88%)
Divorced	0 (0%)	1 (2%)
Has child(ren), n (%)			−0.40	0.14
None	6 (15%)	5 (10%)
1	12 (30%)	10 (21%)
2	9 (22%)	22 (46%)
3	13 (32%)	11 (23%)
Children
Age, M (SD)	8 (4)	8 (5)	−0.25	0.87
Gender, n (%)			−0.09	0.79
Female	13 (38%)	13 (30%)
Male	21 (62%)	29 (67%)
Prefer not to answer	0 (0%)	1 (2%)
Families
Have Pet(s), n (%)	30 (75%)	34 (71%)	0.43	0.81
Family assessment device
Affective responsiveness, M (SD)	2.09 (0.70)	2.03 (0.63)	0.39	0.62
Family assessment Device
General functioning, M (SD)	2.04 (0.59)	1.92 (0.63)	0.90	0.23

Notes: Statistical Tests performed: t-test, Fisher’s exact test. BIPOC: black, indigenous, person of colour. McMaster Family Assessment Device: Affective Responsiveness subscale has a score range of 1–4. Higher scores indicate worse functioning (lower ability to experience appropriate affect). General functioning subscale has a score range of 1–4. Higher scores indicate worse functioning.

Table 2. Control group and intervention group means, standard deviations and regression analysis comparing waitlist control group to service dog intervention group controlling for covariates and baseline scores.

Clinical Survey Measures	N	b	t	Cohen’s d
Spouse Measures
Bradburn Scale of Psychological Wellbeing
Positive Affect	72	0.36	1.21	0.37
Negative Affect	72	−0.08	−0.28	−0.09
Affect Balance	72	0.44	0.95	0.29
Connor Davidson Resilience Scale	72	1.36	1.26	0.22
Activity Questionnaire	72	2.73*	2.53	0.59
Caregiver Appraisal Scale
Caregiving Satisfaction	72	−1.90*	−2.04	−0.46
Caregiving Impact	72	0.89	1.85	0.24
Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale	72	1.26*	2.02	0.38
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures Information System
Anxiety	72	0.14	0.10	−0.04
Depression	72	−2.28	−1.46	−0.24
Companionship	72	0.68	0.46	0.31
Ability to Participate in Activities	72	−1.07	−0.76	−0.12
Social Isolation	72	−1.57	−1.00	−0.30
Family Measures
PedsQL Family Impact Module
Family Functioning	71	3.39	0.64	0.11
Health-Related Quality of Life	71	2.24	0.55	0.22
Inclusion of Others in Self
Relationship with Veteran	72	0.01	0.02	0.08
Relationship with Children	62	0.41	1.69	0.49
Veteran’s Relationship with Children	62	−0.30	−0.95	−0.27
Child Measures
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures Information System
Pediatric Positive Affect	63	0.28	0.16	−0.01
Pediatric Psychological Stress	63	0.77	0.46	−0.11

Note. Reference group: waitlist group, *p<0.05

Table 3. Spouse relationship with service dog group means and standard deviations (N = 34).

Human–animal bond measures	M	SD
Spouse Relationship with Service Dog
Monash Dog–Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS)
Dog–owner interaction	30.38	8.86
Perceived emotional closeness	27.97	8.53
Perceived costs	35.97	6.76
Inclusion of Others in Self (IOS)	4.06	1.7
Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS)	42.44	13.07

Note: MDORS dog–owner interaction and perceived costs scores ranges from 9 to 45 while the perceived emotional closeness scale score ranges from 10 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater interaction, emotional closeness and perceived costs. The LAPS score ranges from 0 to 69. Higher scores indicate greater attachment.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the author upon reasonable request. This information cannot be made publicly available due to privacy reasons.