Abstract

GONZALEZ RAMIREZ, MÓNICA TERESA  and  LANDERO HERNANDEZ, RENÉ. Differences in Perceived Stress, Mental Health, and Physical Health according to Types of Human-Pet Dog Relationships. Rev. colomb. psicol. [online]. 2011, vol.20, n.1, pp.75-86. ISSN 0121-5469.

This study was carried out in order to assess whether the levels of perceived stress and health differed depending on types of human-pet dog relationships, and to evaluate the correlation between perceived stress and health and the frequency with which activities are carried out with the dogs. Self-report questionnaires were filled out by 247 volunteers owning at least one dog. The results show lower levels of perceived stress and higher levels of mental health in those individuals who consider the dog a member of the family. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between dog-training activities and stress and mental health, between playing with the dog and vitality and mental health, and between walking the dog and vitality. The conclusion was that those individuals who consider their dogs as members of the family and carry out more activities with them have better physical and mental health, as well as lower levels of perceived stress.

Keywords : perceived stress; human-pet dog interaction; physical health; mental health.

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