Effects of Companion Dogs on Adult Attachment, Emotion Regulation, and Mental Wellbeing in Hong Kong

What is it about?

Nowadays keeping companion animals (pets) is now a common phenomenon in many countries. Given that pets are seen as trustworthy and non-judgmental, their companionship provides security and emotional support for pet owners in various dimensions. Due to a lack of related human-pet studies from Asian perspectives, this study is the first in Hong Kong to explore the functions of pets based on attachment theory. We also investigate how pet attachment influences pet owners’ human attachment security, emotion regulation and mental well-being._x000D_ _x000D_ In this study, we found that a pet acts as a security supplement to pet owners rather than a complete substitute for a human attachment figure. There is a striking finding that a secure human-pet bond can enhance more positive emotion reappraisal and better mental well-being. Treating pets as family members or friends can also help pet owners increase their sense of security. This study contributes more empirical evidence to the literature on human-pet relationships regarding the role of pets and the mental health benefits gained from a secure pet attachment._x000D_ _x000D_ Animals have a natural power that may spiritually heal people’s hearts. Given the therapeutic value of pets found in this study, we hope that it will encourage more people to adopt animals and keep pets in home settings. In so doing so, both human beings and pets could gain reciprocal benefits from a secure human-pet bond.

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