Privrženost psima i ljudima i njezin odnos sa zadovoljstvom životom i usamljenosti

master's thesis

• Title (english): Attachment to dogs and humans and its relationship with life satisfaction and loneliness
• Author: Lorena Lončarić
• Mentor: Una Mikac (mentor)
• Committee member: Damir Ljubotina (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Martina Pocrnić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Psychology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-07-03, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Psychology; General Psychology

Abstract

Pojedinci kroz odnos s drugim ljudima, ali i kućnim ljubimcima, posebice psima, ostvaruju privrženost koja može biti povezana s mentalnim zdravljem. Ona može biti različite jačine u različitim odnosima, npr., s partnerom ili psom. Privrženost ljudima je vjerojatno jača zbog ograničenja koje pas ima u smislu ponašanja, verbalnog izražavanja i kognicije. Unatoč tome, i privrženost ostvarena sa psom mogla bi imati povoljne posljedice na mentalno zdravlje, poput smanjenja usamljenosti i povećanja zadovoljstva životom. Dosadašnji nalazi nisu konzistentni pa je moguće da privrženost psu doprinosi psihičkom zdravlju samo u slučajevima kad privrženost nije ostvarena kroz odnos s ljudima. Cilj ovog istraživanja je ispitati razlike u privrženosti sa psom te s različitim bliskim osobama, kao i moderacijski efekt razine privrženosti bliskoj osobi na povezanost privrženosti psu i usamljenosti odnosno zadovoljstva životom. Podaci su prikupljeni na uzorku od 1199 punoljetnih sudionika koji su vlasnici psa minimalno godinu dana. U istraživanju je korišten Upitnik karakteristika i funkcija privrženosti, procjena zadovoljstva životom na jednoj čestici i Kratka verzija UCLA skale usamljenosti. Funkcije privrženosti najzastupljenije su u odnosu sa psom, zatim partnerom, članom obitelji i prijateljem. Privrženost psu bila je granično neznačajno (pozitivno) povezana s usamljenosti i nije bila povezana sa zadovoljstvom životu, te ove veze nisu bile moderirane privrženošću bliskoj osobi. Moguće je da prijašnje inkonzistentne nalaze objašnjavaju drugi faktori, kao tipovi privrženosti, što je potrebno dalje istražiti.

Abstract (english)

Individuals develop attachment through relationships with other people and pets, especially dogs, which can be associated with a person's mental health. These attachments can vary in strength in different relationships, for example, with a partner or a dog. Attachment to people is likely stronger due to the limitations dogs have in terms of behavior, verbal expression, and cognition. Nonetheless, attachment formed with a dog can have positive effects on mental health, such as reducing loneliness and increasing life satisfaction. Previous findings have been inconsistent; suggesting that attachment to a dog may contribute to mental health only when attachment is not established through relationships with people. The aim of this research is to examine differences in attachment to a dog and to various close individuals, as well as the moderating effect of the level of attachment to a close person on the relationship between attachment to a dog and loneliness or life satisfaction. Data were collected on a sample of 1199 participants aged 18 and over who have owned a dog for at least one year. The study used the Attachment Features and Functions Questionnaire, a single-item life satisfaction assessment, and the Short Form of the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Attachment functions were most prevalent in relationships with dogs, followed by partners, family members, and friends. Attachment to a dog was borderline insignificant (positively) associated to loneliness and was not associated with life satisfaction, and these associations were not moderated by attachment to a close person. It is possible that previous inconsistent findings can be explained by other factors, such as attachment style, which need further investigation.

• Keywords: privrženost; usamljenost; zadovoljstvo životom; vlasnici pasa; kućni ljubimci
• Keywords (english): attachment; loneliness; life satisfaction; dog owners; pets
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:636723
• Study programme: Title: Psychology; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra psihologije (magistar/magistra psihologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-07-08 13:37:27