Young adults’ views on the mechanisms underpinning the impact of pets on symptoms of anxiety and depression

Introduction: Emerging adulthood is considered a peak age for the onset of mental health difficulties with approximately 75% of mental health disorders being diagnosed during this developmental period. Companion animals confer both risk and benefits to mental health yet the potential underpinning mechanisms which explain such impacts are not fully understood. This study aimed to gather […]

Pet attachment and the interpersonal theory of suicide

Background: Pet ownership is often assumed to have mental health benefits, but the effect of pets on suicide risk has a scant literature. Aims: Using the interpersonal theory of suicide, we examined the relationships between perceived  burdensomeness (PB), thwarted belongingness (TB), overall attachment to one’s pet, pet attachment avoidance or anxiety, and suicide risk. The […]

Role of pets and animal assisted therapy in suicide prevention

Preventive measures in suicidal patients include immediate crisis management with rapid-acting medications and hospital admission of patients who are at extremely elevated risk, creating a safety plan, eliminating any means which may facilitate self-injury, preliminary treatment of underlying psychiatric illnesses, psychotherapy, and assuring the continuity of care between the hospital and primary care/mental health professionals. […]

Pet attachment and the interpersonal theory of suicide

Objective: Pet ownership is often assumed to have mental health benefits, but the effect of pets on suicide risk has a scant literature. Method: Using the interpersonal theory of suicide, we examined the relationships between perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, overall attachment to one’s pet (quality of the relationship), pet attachment avoidance (distrustful of the relationship) […]