The Role of Pets in the Support Networks of People Recovering from Breast Cancer. June McNicholas, Glyn M. Collis, Chris Kent & Michelle Rogers. (University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK) Research supported by Waltham. Presented at the 9th International Conference on Human-Animal Interactions, People and Animals, A Global Perspective for the 21st Century, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 13-15, 2001.
Pets are widely accepted as providing a range of supportive functions to their owners. Previous research suggests that pets may play a particular role for people who are undergoing stresses that make if difficult for them to turn to human relationships such as bereavement during a serious illness.
This study recruited 70 women from five breast cancer support groups. A total of 51.4% owned pets (18 dogs, 15 cats, 3 other pets). Subjects completed a questionnaire to measure sources of support; perceived attribution and control of illness and treatment and lifestyle and outlook since diagnosis.
From the 27-item section on social support 88% of owners reported their pet provided support for at least one item; 43% said the pets provided at least 10 items of support with 4% reporting 20+ items. The type of pet owned did not significantly affect perceived support although the time spent with the pet was a significant factor, F(1.36)=5.41, p=0.02, more time with a pet indicating greater support.
Pet ownership did not affect perceived health or adjustment to cancer but was associated with less perceived disfigurement through the disease. Pet ownership was also significantly associated with better perceived control of illness and treatment, F(1.68)=7.15, p=0.009. In turn, better control of illness was associated with greater numbers of visits to GP's F(92.67)=3.77, p=0.03.
Results of this study suggest that pets can provide valuable support during adjustment and coping with breast cancer. Support provided is mainly through emotional and tactile comfort and the normalizing effect of having a relationship, which, unlike many human relationships, remains unaffected despite the presence of a serious illness, which may threaten fear and disfigurement.
