Pets as Sources of Support for Mothers, Fathers and Young Children. Gail F. Melson, Ph.D., Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907; Rona Schwartz, M.S., Purdue University; Alan Beck, Sc.D, Purdue University. (Presented at the 8th International Conference on Human-Animal Interactions, The Changing Roles of Animals in Society, September 10-12, 1998, Prague.)

This study had three aims:

1. to determine how dimensions of support from household pets reported by mothers, fathers and young children compare to dimensions of human support, as reflected in Weiss' theory of social provisions of relationships;
2. to examine the relation between support from pets and parents' stress as well as parental perceptions of child adjustment; and
3. assess individual family characteristics predictive of using pets as social support.

Measures of stress, support from pet, and family demographics were collected individually from 56 mothers, 52 fathers and 59 children (59 family units) during individual home interviews. Resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure DBP) were assessed from each individual. Perceived parental stress was measured by the Life Experiences Survey and the Hassles Scale and parental perception of the child's adjustment was measured by the Preschool Socioaffective Profile. Dimensions of support from pet was assessed by the Pet Attitude Inventory (adults) and by two measures adapted from Bryant (1985; 1990) (child).

Results:

1. Factor analysis of support measures showed that parents reported seven dimensions of pet support comparable to human support dimensions. Emotional support, social integration, and closeness, in that order, were more important for mothers and fathers. Three factors-emotional support, exclusivity and mutuality-accounted for children's support from pets.
2. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that after accounting for other variables, pet support predicted lower maternal SBP (b= -.34, p<.05) and DBP (b= -.25, p<.10), lower paternal DBP (b=-.34, p<.05) more positive life events for mothers (b= -.33, p<.05), more total life events for fathers (b= -.26, p<.05) and less anxiety-withdrawal by children according to mothers (b= -.44, p<.01).
3. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that starting preschool at a younger age and spending more hours per week in preschool predicted children's greater use of pets as supports (F(2.43) = 4.31, p<.02). Family demographic variables did not predict adults' use of pets as supports. These results confirm that pets fulfill many of the same support functions as humans for both adults and children, that pet support, like human support, is associated with less stress and better adjustment and that this relation holds across varied family characteristics.