Ah Mau, Brianna (2012) The psychological benefits of animal companions: A "cure" for social exclusion? Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
The aim of the current study was to examine whether companion animals reduce the negative psychological consequences associated with social exclusion because they act as a source of social support. Participants were asked to recall a prior experience of social exclusion or inclusion and subsequently viewed images of companion animals (dogs), noncompanion animals or control images. It was hypothesised that participants who experienced social exclusion would report greater psychological well-being after viewing companion animal images compared to non-companion animal and control images. Specifically, they would report less loneliness and negative affect and greater satisfaction with life, meaning in life, and self-esteem. No such effect was expected for socially included participants. Furthermore, it was predicted that viewing companion animal images (compared to non-companion animal and control images) would lead to greater feelings of social acceptance, and therefore more positive psychological well-being. Although participants that recounted an episode of social exclusion reported lower feelings of inclusion, more negative affect and less positive affect compared to socially included participants, limited support was offered for the hypotheses. Contrary to expectations, socially excluded participants did not report greater psychological well-being after viewing images of companion animals compared to non-companion animal and control images. Unexpectedly, participants that viewed non-companion animal images, regardless of exclusion status, reported more positive affect and more meaning in life compared to participants that viewed control images and greater self-esteem compared to participants that viewed companion animal and control images. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Carla Jeffries |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Aug 2025 01:28 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Aug 2025 01:28 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | companion animals, social exclusion, psychological wellbeing, dogs, pet therapy |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52102 |
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