Crazy cat lady – istraživanje mentalnog zdravlja vlasnica mačaka

master's thesis

• Title (english): Crazy cat lady – mental health study among cat owners
• Author: Ivana Baran
• Mentor: Andrea Vranić (mentor)
• Committee member: Dragutin Ivanec (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Nikola Erceg (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Psychology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Psychology; General Psychology

Abstract

Pozitivan utjecaj ljubimaca na mentalno i fizičko zdravlje utvrđen je u mnogim istraživanjima, no u popularnoj kulturi se proteže arhetip crazy cat lady, usidjelice okružene velikim brojem mačaka. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati stereotip lude mačkarice, odnosno istražiti razlike u mentalnom zdravlju i osobinama ličnosti žena s obzirom na broj mačaka koje imaju. Istraživanje je provedeno na 403 sudionika. Sudionici su ispunjavali upitnik ličnosti (IPIP-50), Ljestvicu depresivnosti, anksioznosti i stresa (DASS-21), Upitnik za ispitivanje općih psihopatoloških teškoća (CORE-OM) i Upitnik o kućnim ljubimcima. U skladu sa stereotipom, očekivali smo da će sudionice s više mačaka imati lošije mentalno zdravlje od onih s manjim brojem mačaka ili bez njih. Rezultati su opovrgnuli hipotezu lude mačkarice – nisu utvrđene razlike u mentalnom zdravlju niti osobinama ličnosti među ženama s različitim brojem mačaka. Isti rezultati dobiveni su i kada su u analizu uključeni muškarci. Ipak, utvrđene su razlike u anksioznosti, stresu i općoj psihološkoj uznemirenosti između osoba koje imaju ljubimce i onih koji ih nemaju. Nisu utvrđene razlike s obzirom na tip ljubimca koje sudionici posjeduju. Iako metodološka ograničenja poput dugotrajne pandemije i jakog potresa neposredno prije istraživanja nalažu da se rezultati uzmu s oprezom, smatramo da su ovi rezultati korisna osnova za suzbijanje stereotipa o vlasnicima većeg broja mačaka.

Abstract (english)

Positive influence of pet ownership on mental and physical health has been confirmed through numerous studies, yet the archetype of crazy cat lady, a spinster surrounded by cats, features prominently in popular culture. The purpose of this study was to test the archetype, that is, to test the differences in mental health and personality between women depending on the number of cats they own. We measured the scores of 403 participants on personality traits questionnaire IPIP-50, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). In line with the stereotype, we expected for participants with more cats to have worse mental health than those with fewer or no cats. The results refuted the crazy cat lady hypothesis – no differences in mental health or personality were found between women in regards to the number of cats. However, differences in anxiety, stress and general psychological distress levels were found between people with pets and those without. There were no differences in regard to the type of animal they owned. Even though methodological limitations such as the long-lasting pandemic and a severe earthquake just before the study was conducted dictate caution when interpreting the results, we believe the study offers a useful foundation in extinguishing the prevailing stereotype of cat owners.

• Keywords: crazy cat lady; mentalno zdravlje; osobine ličnosti
• Keywords (english): crazy cat lady; mental health; personality traits
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:966252
• 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: 2021-02-26 11:36:31