Human-pet interaction and loneliness: a test of concepts from Roy's adaptation model.
This research used two key concepts from Roy's adaptation model of nursing to examine the relationship between human-pet interaction and loneliness in nursing home residents. These concepts included (a) environmental stimuli as factors influencing adaptation and (b) interdependence as a mode of response to the environment. The hypothesis of this study asserted that the residents of a nursing home who had greater levels of interaction with a pet program would experience less loneliness than those who had lower levels of interaction with a pet. The study used an ex post facto nonexperimental design with 65 subjects. The simplified version of the revised UCLA loneliness scale was used to measure loneliness. Reported level of human-pet interaction was measured according to a four-point scale (1 = no interaction, 4 = quite a lot of interaction). The hypothesis was supported at the p less than 0.03 level of significance. Implications for practice through organizing pet programs in situations where loneliness exists are discussed. Recommendations for future research include replicating the study using a larger sample and developing a comprehensive human-pet interaction tool.
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D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009742:Nursing Theory; D009769:Object Attachment; D012934:Social Isolation