International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 2834-7919   |  e-ISSN: 1554-5210
International Journal of Progressive Education
International Association of Educators

Original article | International Journal of Progressive Education 2021, Vol. 17(3) 216-228

Depression and Subjective Well-Being as Predictors of Pet Owner University Students’ Personality Traits

Hale Nur Kılıç-Memur & Neslihan Yaman

pp. 216 - 228   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijpe.2021.346.14   |  Manu. Number: MANU-2010-23-0001

Published online: June 07, 2021  |   Number of Views: 371  |  Number of Download: 671

Save PDF

Abstract

The pet ownership has a crucial role in individuals’ lives, which offers many beneficial effects. By examining the relationship between pet ownership and owners’ well-being, researchers have found that pets typically made their owners feel well. This study examines the ways in which pet owners’ depression and subjective well-being levels predict their personality traits. It also aims to examine the relationship between these variables and of the participants’ pet preferences. Totally, 307 pet owners participated in this study; all participants were university students living in Turkey. In addition, all participants were aged 18 and older. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to determine the depression levels of the participants; the Subjective Well-Being Scale (SWBS) was used to determine their subjective well-being levels, and an Abbreviated Form Of The Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQR-A) was used to determine personality traits. Data was analyzed using path analysis. The study found that pet owners’ depression and subjective well-being scores predicted their neuroticism and extraversion scores. Subjective well-being and depression predict neuroticism and extroversion in personality traits, and goodness of fit index of this model has been found to be at acceptable levels. It is important to conduct more experimental and correlational studies involving the same variables; these studies may focus on pet owners, as well as their difference with those who do not own pets. They may also focus on specific age groups, such as children, adults, and the elderly.

Keywords: Pets, Pet Owners, University Students, Depression, Subjective Well-Being, Personality Traits

How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Kilic-Memur, H.N. & Yaman, N. (2021). Depression and Subjective Well-Being as Predictors of Pet Owner University Students’ Personality Traits . International Journal of Progressive Education, 17(3), 216-228. doi: 10.29329/ijpe.2021.346.14

Harvard
Kilic-Memur, H. and Yaman, N. (2021). Depression and Subjective Well-Being as Predictors of Pet Owner University Students’ Personality Traits . International Journal of Progressive Education, 17(3), pp. 216-228.

Chicago 16th edition
Kilic-Memur, Hale Nur and Neslihan Yaman (2021). "Depression and Subjective Well-Being as Predictors of Pet Owner University Students’ Personality Traits ". International Journal of Progressive Education 17 (3):216-228. doi:10.29329/ijpe.2021.346.14.
References
  1. Allen, K. M., Blascovich, J., Tomaka, J., & Kelsey, R. M. (1991). Presence of human friends and pet dogs as moderators of autonomic responses to stress in women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(4), 582–589. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.4.582 [Google Scholar]
  2. Alver, B., Dilekmen, M., & Ada, Ş. (2010). Üniversite öğrencilerinin bazı öznel algılamalarına göre psikolojik belirtileri. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 4(33), 13–23. [Google Scholar]
  3. Antonacopoulos, N. M. D., &Pychyl, T. A. (2010). An examination of the potential role of pet ownership, human social support and pet attachment in the psychological health of individuals living alone. Anthrozoös, 23(1), 37–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/175303710X12627079939143 [Google Scholar]
  4. Beals, E. E. (2009). Emotional benefits of dog ownership: Impact of the presence of a pet dog on owners’ responses to negative mood Induction (Doctoral dissertation). http://www.proquest.com/products-services/dissertations/ [Google Scholar]
  5. Berge, J. H. A. (2019). The effects of owning a pet on general self-efficacy in a negative life-changing scenario (Bachelor's thesis, University of Twente). [Google Scholar]
  6. Bierer, R. E. (2000). The relationship between pet bonding, self-esteem and empathy in preadolescents (Doctoral dissertation). http://www.proquest.com/products-services/dissertations/ [Google Scholar]
  7. Brodie, S. J., & Biley, F. C. (1999). Review: An exploration of the potential benefits of pet-facilitated therapy. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 8, 329–337. [Google Scholar]
  8. Brown, S. E., &Katcher, A. H. (2001). Pet attachment and dissociation. Society & Animals, 9(1), 25–41. [Google Scholar]
  9. Brown, T. A. (2006). Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research serie. The Guilford Press. [Google Scholar]
  10. Büyüköztürk, Ş., Kılıç-Çakmak, E., Akgün, Ö.E., Karadeniz, Ş., &Demirel, F. (2016). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri. Pegem Akademi Yayınları. [Google Scholar]
  11. Cenkseven, F. ve Akbaş, T. (2007). Üniversite öğrencilerinde öznel ve psikolojik iyi olmanın yordayıcılarının incelenmesi. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 3 (27), 43-65.  [Google Scholar]
  12. Cevizci, S., Erginöz, E., &Baltaş, Z. (2009). Ruh sağlığının iyileştirilmesinde destek bir tedavi yaklaşımı: Hayvan destekli tedavi. Nobel Medius, 5(1), 4–9. [Google Scholar]
  13. Chandler, C. K., Fernando, D. M., Barrio Minton, C. A., &Portrie-Bethke, T. L. (2015). Eight domains of pet-owner wellness: valuing the owner-pet relationship in the counseling process. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 37(3), 268–282. http://dx.doi.org/10.17744/mehc.37.3.06 [Google Scholar]
  14. Daly, B., & Morton, L. L. (2006). An investigation of human-animal interactions and empathy as related to pet preference, ownership, attachment, and attitudes in children. Anthrozoös, 19(2), 113–127. http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/089279306785593801 [Google Scholar]
  15. Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542–575. [Google Scholar]
  16. Doğan, T. (2006). Üniversite öğrencilerinin iyilik halinin incelenmesi. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 30, 120-129. [Google Scholar]
  17. Douglas, D. K. (2005). Benefits to pets from the human-animal bond: A study of pet owner behaviors and their relation to attachment (Doctoral dissertation). http://www.proquest.com/products-services/dissertations/ [Google Scholar]
  18. Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Lawton, J. M. (1989). The relationships between neuroticism and depressive symptoms. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 24(6), 275–281. [Google Scholar]
  19. Francis, L. J., Brown, L. B., &Philipchalk, R. (1992). The development of an abbreviated form of the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQR-A): Its use among students in England, Canada, the USA and Australia. Personality and Individual Differences, 13(4), 443–449. [Google Scholar]
  20. Friedmann, E., Katcher, A. H., Lynch, J. J., & Thomas, S.A. (1980). Animal companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit. Public Health Reports, 95(4), 307–312. [Google Scholar]
  21. Garcia-Torres, F., &Alos, F. J. (2014). Eysenck personality questionnaire revised psychoticism predicts motivational-somatic symptoms of depression in breast cancer survivors. Psychooncology, 23(3), 350–352. [Google Scholar]
  22. Garrity, T. F., Stallones, L., Marx, M. B., & Johnson, T. P. (1989). Pet ownership and attachment as supportive factors in the health of the elderly. Anthrozoos A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 3(1), 35–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/089279390787057829 [Google Scholar]
  23. Hayes, N., & Joseph, S. (2003). Big 5 correlates of three measures of subjective well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 34(4), 723–727. [Google Scholar]
  24. Hooper, D., Coughlan, J. & Mullen, M. R. (2008). Structural equation modelling: guidelines for determining model fit. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods. 6(1), 53-60. [Google Scholar]
  25. Jardine, R., Martin, N. G., & Henderson, A. S. (1984). Genetic covariation between neuroticism and the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Genetic Epidemiology, 1(2), 89–107. [Google Scholar]
  26. Jylhä, P., &Isometsä, E. (2006). The relationship of neuroticism and extraversion to symptoms of anxiety and depression in the general population. Depression and Anxiety, 23(5), 281–289. [Google Scholar]
  27. Karancı, N., Dirik, G., &Yorulmaz, O. (2007). Eysenck KişilikAnketi-Gözden Geçirilmiş Kısaltılmış Formu’nun (EKA-GGK) Türkiye’de geçerlik ve güvenilirlik çalışması. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi,18(3), 254–261. [Google Scholar]
  28. Karayağız-Muslu, G., & Conk, Z. (2011). Hayvan destekli uygulamalar ve çocuklarda kullanımı. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Yüksekokulu Elektronik Dergisi, 4(2), 83–88. [Google Scholar]
  29. Keyes, C. L. M., Shmotkin, D., & Ryff, C. D. (2002) Optimizing well-being: The empirical encounter of two traditions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 1007–1022.  [Google Scholar]
  30. Lem, M., Coe, J. B., Haley, D. B., Stone, E., & O'Grady, W. (2016). The protective association between pet ownership and depression among street-involved youth: A cross-sectional study. Anthrozoös, 29(1), 123-136. [Google Scholar]
  31. Lewis, A., Krägeloh, C. U., & Shepherd, D. (2009). Pet ownership and health-rated quality of life in New Zealand. Sensoria: A Journal of Mind, Brain & Culture, 5(1), 96–101. http://dx.doi.org/10.7790/ejap.v5i1.138 [Google Scholar]
  32. Maynard, P. L. (2013). Health-Related Quality Of Life and Pet Ownership among Online University Workers (Doctoral dissertation). http://www.proquest.com/products-services/dissertations/ [Google Scholar]
  33. McConnell, A. R., & Brown, C. M. (2011). Friends with benefits: On the positive consequences of pet ownership. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(6), 1239–1252. [Google Scholar]
  34. Melson, G. F. (2003). Child development and the human-companion animal bond. American Behavioral Scientist, 47(1), 31–39. [Google Scholar]
  35. Merrill, S. M. (2012). Individual differences and pet ownership status: Distinguishing among different types of pet owners and non-owners (Master’s thesis). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses databese. (UMI No. 1533088) [Google Scholar]
  36. Pamuk, D. (2015). Yaşlı bireylerin yaşamında evcil hayvanların rolü. Mediterranean Journal of Humanities, 2, 297–306. DOI: 10.13114/MJH.2015214573. [Google Scholar]
  37. Pelletier, S. R. (2007). The relationship between pet ownership, adult attachment, and well-being (Master’s thesis). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses databese. (UMI No. MR40031) [Google Scholar]
  38. Saliba, M. (2016). The role of a pet on a person’s well-being (Bachelor's thesis, University of Malta). [Google Scholar]
  39. Schermelleh-Engel, K., Moosbrugger, H., & Müler, H. (2003). Evaluating the fit of structural equation models: Tests of significance and descriptive goodness-of-fit measures. Methods of Psychological Research Online, 8(2), 23–74. [Google Scholar]
  40. Schimmack, U., Radhakrishnan, P., Oishi, S., Dzokoto, V., &Ahadi, S. (2002). Culture, personality, and subjective well-being: Integrating process models of life satisfaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(4), 582–593. [Google Scholar]
  41. Selçukoğlu Z. (2001). Araştırma görevlilerinde tükenmişlik düzeyi ile yalnızlık düzeyi ve yaşam doyumu arasındaki ilişkinin bazı değişkenler açısından değerlendirilmesi. Yayımlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi. Selçuk Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Konya.  [Google Scholar]
  42. Sheehan, T. J., Fifield, J., Reisine, S., &Tennen, H. (1995). The measurement structure of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 64(3), 507–521. [Google Scholar]
  43. Silberstein, L. K. (2013). Human-directed empathy and childhood history of pet ownership and attachment (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com/products-services/dissertations/ [Google Scholar]
  44. Stanley, I. H., Conwell, Y., Bowen, C., & Van Orden, K. A. (2014). Pet ownership may attenuate loneliness among older adult primary care patients who live alone. Aging & Mental Health, 18(3), 394–399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2013.837147 [Google Scholar]
  45. Şahin, B. (2014). Metodoloji. A. Tanrıöğen (Ed.), Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri. Anı yayıncılık. [Google Scholar]
  46. Tatar, A., &Saltukoglu, G. (2010). The adaptation of the CES-Depression Scale into Turkish through the use of confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory and the examination of psychometric characteristics. Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni-Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 20(3), 213–227. [Google Scholar]
  47. Taysi, E. (2000). Benlik saygısı, arkadaşlardan ve aileden sağlanan sosyal destek: Üniversite öğrencileriyle yapılan bir çalışma. Yayımlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Ankara Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Ankara.  [Google Scholar]
  48. Trigg, J., Thompson, K., Smith, B., & Bennett, P. (2016). An animal just like me: The importance of preserving the identities of companion-animal owners in disaster contexts. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 10(1), 26–40. [Google Scholar]
  49. Tuzgöl Dost, M. (2005). Öznel iyi oluş ölçeği’nin geliştirilmesi: Geçerlik güvenirlik çalışması. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 3(23), 103–110. [Google Scholar]
  50. Valeri, R. M. (2006). Tails of laughter: A pilot study examining the relationship between companion animal guardianship (pet ownership) and laughter. Society & Animals, 14(3), 275–293. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853006778149190 [Google Scholar]
  51. Walsh, F. (2009). Human-animal bonds I: The relational significance of companion animals. Family Process, 48(4), 462–480. [Google Scholar]
  52. Wells, D. L. (2009). The effects of animals on human health and well-being. Journal of Social Issues, 65(3), 523–543. [Google Scholar]
  53. Winefield, H. R., Black, A., & Chur-Hansen, A. (2008). Health effects of ownership of and attachment to companion animals in an older population. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 15, 303–310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10705500802365532 [Google Scholar]
Download
Metric
History
Related

Volume 17 Issue 3

June 2021

All Articles

International Journal of Progressive Education

International Association of Educators.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License.
Privacy policy     |     Terms of Use     |     Use of Cookies
Creative Commons Lisansı
© 2012 - 2024 - THDSoft e-Journal Management System.