Pet Ownership and Self-Perceptions of Older People

Abstract

The study investigated the relationships between pet-ownership or non-ownership among elderly subjects and scores on the Adjective Check List scales. It was hypothesized that pet-owners would score higher on the Self-confidence and Personal Adjustment scales and lower on the Abasement, Deference, and Succorance scales than non-owners. 104 adults completed an experimenter-designed questionnaire and the check list. An analysis of variance was performed on the standardized T scores for each scale. For owners and non-owners combined, the Scheffé test showed that males were significantly higher on the Need for Achievement and Endurance scales, while females were significantly higher on the Lability scale. Pet-owners were significantly higher on the number of adjectives checked and on the Nurturance scale and significantly lower on the Succorance and Abasement scales than non-owners. Two of the interactions were significant. Male pet-owners scored significantly higher on the Defensiveness scale and male non-owners scored significantly higher on the number of unfavorable adjectives checked than did the other three groups. The differences suggest that pet-ownership may be psychologically advantageous to the elderly. Further research is needed.