Relationship of pet attachment and subjective well being of owners

Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati razlike između studenata koji jesu i nisu vlasnici kućnih ljubimaca po osnovnim pokazateljima dobrobiti: zadovoljstvu i općoj razini sreće. Osim toga, ispitana je povezanost privrženosti s ljubimcem i indikatora dobrobiti kod sudionika istraživanja. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo N = 1150 studenata koji su ispunili internetski upitnik te osam sudionika fokus grupe. U istraživanju su korišteni idući instrumenti: prevedeni i prilagođeni upitnik bliskosti/privrženosti s ljubimcem koji je nastao prilagodbom CENSHARE upitnika privrženosti ljubimcima (Holocomb, Williams i Richards, 1985) te skale odnosa vlasnika – ljubimca (Winefield, Black i Chur – Hansen, 2008), Frodycev (1988) upitnik emocija i čestica Ingleharta, Foe, Petersona i Welzela (2008). Vlasnici kućnih ljubimaca općenito nisu bili sretniji od studenata koji nisu bili vlasnici kućnih ljubimaca. Studenti vlasnici pasa su pokazali veće razine opće sreće od studenata koji nemaju kućne ljubimce. Nije pronađena statistički značajna razlika u zadovoljstvu životom između studenata vlasnika i studenata koji nisu vlasnici kućnih ljubimaca, bez obzira na vrstu kućnog ljubimca. Ženski dio uzorka je pokazao veću razinu zadovoljstva životom bez obzira na to radi li se o vlasnicima kućnih ljubimaca ili studentima koji nisu vlasnici. S obzirom na spol, nije pronađena razlika u razini opće sreće. Privrženost s kućnim ljubimcem je umjereno povezana sa zadovoljstvom života vlasnika kućnih ljubimaca te je ta povezanost dosegla razinu statističke značajnosti na cjelokupnom uzorku. Međutim, kod muškaraca je ustanovljena značajna povezanost razine opće sreće i privrženosti s kućnim ljubimcem. Prevedeni i prilagođeni upitnik bliskosti/privrženosti s ljubimcem pokazuje visoku unutarnju konzistentnost = 0,92 te zadovoljavajuću facijalnu valjanost.The aim of this research was to examine the differences between student pet and non-pet owners in certain well-being indicators: happiness and life satisfaction. In addition we examined the relationship of pet attachment and the well-being indicators on the participants of this research. The study included N = 1150 students who filled out an online survey and eight students who participated in the focus group. The following questionnaires were used: Translated and adjusted pet attachment scale which was made by using CENSHARE Pet Attachment Survey (Holocomb, Williams & Richards, 1985) and by using Owner – Pet Relationship Scale (Winefield, Black & Chur – Hansen, 2008). We also used Frodyce (1988) Emotions Questionnaire and a single item of Inglehart, Foe, Peterson & Welzel (2008). Pet owners were not happier than the students who were not pet owners. However, students who were dog owners had shown greater values of happiness than students who were not pet owners, on a statistically significant level. There was no statistically significant difference between life satisfaction between student pet owners and student non-pet owners regardless of the pet type involved in the analysis. Female participants of this research have shown greater life satisfaction on a statistically significant level, regardless if they were pet owners or not. There was no difference in happiness between male and female participants. Pet attachment has shown modest correlation to life satisfaction on a statistically significant level but hasn't shown significant correlation with happiness. Pet attachment has shown mild correlation to well-being indicators in male participants. Translated and adjusted pet attachment scale has shown high internal consistency = 0,92 and satisfactory face validity