3,006
Views
23
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

Spotlight on the psychological basis of childhood pet attachment and its implications

, , , &
Pages 469-479 | Published online: 28 Jun 2019

References

  • American Pet Products Association. Available from: https://americanpetproducts.org/. Accessed 21, 2019.
  • Barker S, Barker R. The human-canine bond: closer than family ties? J Ment Health Couns. 1988;10(1):46–56.
  • Cohen SP. Can pets function as family members? West J Nurs Res. 2002;24(6):621–638. doi:10.1177/01939450232055538612365764
  • Taylor SC, Breen LJ. Exploring pet loss for survivors of child sexual abuse: a hitherto uncharted terrain of trauma impact and recovery. Child Abuse Rev. 2014;23:353–360. doi:10.1002/car.2279
  • Purewal R, Christley R, Kordas K, et al. Companion animals and child/adolescent development: a systematic review of the evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017;14(234):1–25. doi:10.3390/ijerph14030234
  • Polheber JP, Matchock RL. The presence of a dog attenuates cortisol and heart rate in the Trier Social Stress Test compared to human friends. J Behav Med. 2014;37(5):860–867. doi:10.1007/s10865-013-9546-124170391
  • Jalongo MR. An attachment perspective on the child-dog bond: interdisciplinary and international research findings. Early Child Educ J. 2015;43:395–405. doi:10.1007/s10643-015-0687-4
  • Bowlby J. The nature of the child’s tie to his mother. Int J Psychoanal. 1958;39:350–373.13610508
  • Suomi SJ, Collins ML, Harlow HF. Effects of permanent separation from mother on infant monkeys. Dev Psychol. 1973;9(3):376–384. doi:10.1037/h0034896
  • Suomi SJ, Collins ML, Harlow HF, Ruppenthal GC. Effects of maternal and peer separations on young monkeys. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1976;17(2):101–112. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1976.tb00382.x819450
  • Ainsworth MDS, Blehar MC, Waters E, Wall S. Patterns of Attachment: a Psychological Study of the Strange Situation. Hillsdale (NJ): Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1978.
  • Ainsworth MDS, Bowlby J. An ethological approach to personality development. Am Psychol. 1991;46(4):333–341. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.46.4.333
  • Cross HA, Harlow HF. Prolonged and progressive effects of partial isolation on the behavior of Macaque monkeys. J Exp Res Pers. 1965;1(1):39–49.
  • Harlow HF. The nature of love. Am Psychol. 1958;13:673–685. doi:10.1037/h0047884
  • Ainsworth MDS, Bell SM. Attachment, exploration, and separation: illustrated by the behavior of one-year-olds in a strange situation. Child Dev. 1970;41:49–67. doi:10.2307/11273885490680
  • Bowlby J. Attachment and Loss. 2nd ed. New York (NY): Basic Books; 1982.
  • Ainsworth MDS. Patterns of infant-mother attachments: antecedents and effects on development. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1985;61(9):771–791.3864510
  • Main M, Solomon J. Procedures for identifying infants as disorganized/disoriented during the ainsworth strange situation In: Attachment in the Preschool Years: Theory, Research, and Intervention. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press; 1990:121–160.
  • Rutter M. Developmental catch-up, and deficit, following adoption after severe global early privation. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1998;39(4):465–476. doi:10.1017/S00219630980022369599775
  • Rutter M, Colvert E, Kreppner J, et al. Early adolescent outcomes for institutionally-deprived and non-deprived adoptees. I: disinhibited attachment. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2007;48(1):17–30. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01688.x17244267
  • Simpson JA. Influence of attachment styles on romantic relationships. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1990;59(5):971–980. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.59.5.971
  • Maccoby EE. The role of parents in the socialization of children: an historical overview. Dev Psychol. 1992;28(6):1006–1017. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.28.6.1006
  • Kobak RR, Hazan C. Attachment in marriage: effects of security and accuracy of working models. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991;60(6):861–869. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.60.6.8611865324
  • Bögels SM, Brechman-Toussaint ML. Family issues in child anxiety: attachment, family functioning, parental rearing and beliefs. Clin Psychol Rev. 2006;26(7):834–856. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2005.08.00116473441
  • Bernier A, Beauchamp MH, Carlson SM, Lalonde G. A secure base from which to regulate: attachment security in toddlerhood as a predictor of executive functioning at school entry. Dev Psychol. 2015;51(9):1177–1189. doi:10.1037/dev000003226192039
  • Kirkpatrick LA, Davis KE. Attachment style, gender, and relationship stability: a longitudinal analysis. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1994;66(3):502–512. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.66.3.5028169762
  • van IJzendoorn MH. Adult attachment representations, parental responsiveness, and infant attachment: a meta-analysis on the predictive validity of the adult attachment interview. Psychol Bull. 1995;117(3):387–403. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.3877777645
  • Belsky J. Attachment, mating, and parenting. Hum Nat. 1997;8(4):361–381. doi:10.1007/BF0291303926197165
  • Lyons-Ruth K. Attachment relationships among children with aggressive behavior problems: the role of disorganized early attachment patterns. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(1):64–73. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.64.1.648907085
  • Schaffer HR, Emerson PE. The development of social attachments in infancy. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev. 1964;29(3):1–77. doi:10.2307/1165727
  • Stewart RB. Sibling attachment relationships: child-infant interactions in the strange situation. Dev Psychol. 1983;19(2):192–199. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.19.2.192
  • Bagley DK, Gonsman VL. Pet attachment and personality type. Anthrozoos. 2005;18(1):28–42. doi:10.2752/089279305785594333
  • Kurdek LA. Pet dogs as attachment figures. J Soc Pers Relat. 2008;25(2):247–266. doi:10.1177/0265407507087958
  • Serpell J, Barrett P. The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People. New York (NY): Cabridge University Press; 1995.
  • Garrity TF, Stallones L, Marx MB, Johnson TP. Pet ownership and attachment as supportive factors in the health of the elderly. Anthrozoos. 1989;3(1):35–44. doi:10.2752/089279390787057829
  • Rooney NJ, Bradshaw JW. An experimental study of the effects of play upon the dog-human relationship. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2002;75(2):161–176. doi:10.1016/S0168-1591(01)00192-7
  • Bennett PC, Rohlf VI. Owner-companion dog interactions: relationships between demographic variables, potentially problematic behaviours, training engagement and shared activities. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2007;102(1–2):65–84. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2006.03.009
  • Meyer I, Forkman B. Dog and owner characteristics affecting the dog-owner relationship. J Vet Behav. 2014;9(4):143–150. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2014.03.002
  • Johnson TP, Garrity TF, Stallones L. Psychometric evaluation of the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS). Anthrozoos. 1992;5(3):160–175. doi:10.2752/089279392787011395
  • Marinelli L, Adamelli S, Normando S, Bono G. Quality of life of the pet dog: influence of owner and dog’s characteristics. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2007;108(1–2):143–156. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2006.11.018
  • Helms TD, Bain MJ. Evaluation of owner attachment to dogs on the basis of whether owners are legally considered guardians of their pets. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009;234(7):896–900. doi:10.2460/javma.234.7.89619335239
  • Mariti C, Ricci E, Carlone B, Moore JL, Sighieri C, Gazzano A. Dog attachment to man: a comparison between pet and working dogs. J Vet Behav. 2013;8(3):135–145. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2012.05.006
  • Kwong MJ, Bartholomew K. “Not just a dog”: an attachment perspective on relationships with assistance dogs. Attach Hum Dev. 2011;13(5):421–436. doi:10.1080/14616734.2011.58440121838644
  • Kubinyi E, Turcsán B, Miklósi Á. Dog and owner demographic characteristics and dog personality trait associations. Behav Processes. 2009;81(3):392–401. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2009.04.00419520239
  • Beetz A, Julius H, Turner D, Kotrschal K. Effects of social support by a dog on stress modulation in male children with insecure attachment. Front Psychol. 2012;3(352):1–9. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.0035222279440
  • Julius H, Beetz AM, Niebergall K Breaking the transmission of insecure attachment relationships. Special session presented at: The 12th International Conference on Human-Animal Interactions (IAHAIO); 7; 2010; Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Julius H, Beetz A, Kotrschal K, Turner D, Uvnäs-Moberg K. Attachment to Pets: an Integrative View of Human-Animal Relationships with Implications for Therapeutic Practice. Cambridge (MA): Hogrefe; 2013.
  • Thielke LE, Rosenlicht G, Saturn SR, Udell MAR. Nasally-administered oxytocin has limited effects on owner-directed attachment behavior in pet dogs (canis lupus familiaris). Front Psychol. 2017;8:1699. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.0169929033879
  • Westgarth C, Boddy LM, Stratton G, et al. Pet ownership, dog types and attachment to pets in 9-10 year old children in Liverpool, UK. BMC Vet Res. 2013;9(102):1–10. doi:10.1186/1746-6148-9-1823289974
  • Bodsworth W, Coleman GJ. Child-companion animal attachment bonds in single and two-parent families. Anthrozoos. 2001;14(4):216–223. doi:10.2752/089279301786999391
  • Vidovic V, Stetic VV, Bratko D. Pet ownership, type of pet and socio-emotional development of school children. Anthrozoos. 1999;12(4):211–217. doi:10.2752/089279399787000129
  • Barlow MR, Hutchinson CA, Newton K, Grover T, Ward L. Childhood neglect, attachment to companion animals, and stuffed animals as attachment objects in women and men. Anthrozoos. 2012;25(1):111–119. doi:10.2752/175303712X13240472427159
  • Barlow MR, Cromer LD, Caron HP, Freyd JJ. Comparison of normative and diagnosed dissociation on attachment to companion animals and stuffed animals. Psychol Trauma. 2012;4(5):501–506. doi:10.1037/a0028134
  • Brown SE, Katcher AH. The contribution of attachment to pets and attachment to nature to dissociation and absorption. Dissociation. 1997;10(2):125–129.
  • Hall NJ, Liu J, Kertes DA, Wynne CDL. Behavioral and self-report measures influencing children’s reported attachment to their dog. Anthrozoos. 2016;29(1):137–150. doi:10.1080/08927936.2015.108868328066130
  • Nagasawa M, Kikusui T, Onaka T, Ohta M. Dog’s gaze at its owner increases owner’s urinary oxytocin during social interaction. Horm Behav. 2009;55(3):434–441. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.12.00219124024
  • Handlin L, Hydbring-Sandberg E, Nilsson A, Ejdebäck M, Jansson A, Uvnäs-Moberg K. Short-term interaction between dogs and their owners: effects on oxytocin, cortisol, insulin and heart rate: an exploratory study. Anthrozoos. 2011;24(3):301–315. doi:10.2752/175303711X13045914865385
  • Carter CS, Grippo AJ, Pournajafi-Nazarloo H, Ruscio MG, Porges SW. Oxytocin, vasopressin and sociality. Prog Brain Res. 2008;170:331–336.18655893
  • Arhant‐Sudhir K, Arhant‐Sudhir R, Sudhir K. Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk reduction: supporting evidence, conflicting data and underlying mechanisms. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2011;38(11):734–738. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1681.2011.05583.x21824172
  • Vormbrock JK, Grossberg JM. Cardiovascular effects of human-pet dog interactions. J Behav Med. 1988;11(5):509–517. doi:10.1007/BF008448433236382
  • Dinis FABSG, Martins TLF. Does cat attachment have an effect on human health: a comparison between owners and volunteers. Pet Behav Sci. 2016;1:1–12. doi:10.21071/pbs.v0i1.3986
  • Zilcha-Mano S, Mikulincer M, Shaver PR. Pets as safe havens and secure bases: the moderating role of pet attachment orientations. J Res Pers. 2012;46(5):571–580. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2012.06.005
  • Souter MA, Miller MD. Do animal-assisted activities effectively treat depression: a meta-analysis. Anthrozoos. 2007;20(2):167–180. doi:10.2752/175303707X207954
  • Parish-Plass N. Animal-assisted therapy with children suffering from insecure attachment due to abuse and neglect: a method to lower the risk of intergenerational transmission of abuse? Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008;13(1):7–30. doi:10.1177/135910450708633818411863
  • Beetz A, Uvnäs-Moberg K, Julius H, Kotrschal K. Psychosocial and psychophysiological effects of human-animal interactions: the possible role of oxytocin. Front Psychol. 2012;3(234):1–15. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.0023422279440
  • Cassels MT, White N, Gee N, Hughes C. One of the family? Measuring young adolescents’ relationships with pets and siblings. J Appl Dev Psychol. 2017;49:12–20. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2017.01.003
  • Marsa-Sambola F, Muldoon J, Williams J, Lawrence A, Connor M, Currie C. The short attachment to pets scale (SAPS) for children and young people: development, psychometric qualities and demographic and health associations. Child Indic Res. 2016;9(1):111–131. doi:10.1007/s12187-015-9303-9
  • Balluerka N, Muela A, Amiano N, Caldentey MA. Influence of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on the attachment representations of youth in residential care. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2014;42:103–109. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.04.007
  • Miltiades H, Shearer J. Attachment to pet dogs and depression in rural older adults. Anthrozoos. 2011;24(2):147–154. doi:10.2752/175303711X12998632257585
  • Field NP, Orsini L, Gavish R, Packman W. Role of attachment in response to pet loss. Death Stud. 2009;33(4):334–355. doi:10.1080/0748118080270578319368063
  • Stull JW, Brophy J, Weese JS. Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections. CMAJ. 2015;187(10):736–743. doi:10.1503/cmaj.14102025897046
  • Ownby DR. Pet dander and difficult-to-control asthma: the burden of illness. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2010;31(5):381–384. doi:10.2500/aap.2010.31.338920929604
  • Almqvist C, Wickman M, Perfetti L, et al. Worsening of asthma in children allergic to cats, after indirect exposure to cat at school. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001;163(3):694–698. doi:10.1164/ajrccm.163.3.200611411254526
  • Ownby D, Johnson CC. Recent understandings of pet allergies. F1000Res. 2016;27:5.
  • Gilchrist J, Sacks JJ, White D, Kresnow M-J. Dog bites: still a problem? Inj Prev. 2008;14(5):296–301. doi:10.1136/ip.2007.01622018836045
  • Overall KL, Love M. Dog bites to humans: demography, epidemiology, injury, and risk. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001;218(12):1923–1934. doi:10.2460/javma.2001.218.192311417736
  • Spiegel IB. A pilot study to evaluate an elementary school-based dog bite prevention program. Anthrozoos. 2000;13(3):164–173. doi:10.2752/089279300786999789
  • Chapman S, Cornwall J, Righetti J, Sung L. Preventing dog bites in children: randomized controlled trial of an educational intervention. BMJ. 2000;320(7248):1512–1513. doi:10.1136/bmj.320.7248.151210834894
  • Meints K, Brelsford V, De Keuster T. Teaching children and parents to understand dog signaling. Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:257. doi:10.3389/fvets.2018.0004030525045