The Lived Experience of Human-pet Relationships Among Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

• Author / Creator

  Hamilton, Leslie

• As a result of the prevalence (Murray, Nguyen, & Cohen, 2014; Sanderson, 2006) and severity of childhood sexual abuse (CSA; Colarusso, 2010; Fergusson, McLeod, & Horwood, 2013), it is essential to identify ways to support adult survivors. One potential and relatively unexplored, resource available to survivors is the human-pet relationship. In the literature, the human-pet relationship is linked to many positive benefits related to emotion regulation, mental health, physical health, and interpersonal functioning (i.e., areas where survivors of CSA struggle; Duvall Antonacopoulous & Pychyl, 2010; Tower & Nokota, 2006; Zimolag & Krupa, 2009). Research has also shown that animal-assisted interventions have positive effects in the treatment of child sexual abuse (Dietz, Davis, & Pennings, 2012; Parish-Plass, 2008). Despite existing evidence, there is little research on human-pet relationships among survivors of CSA. This study explored the lived experience of human-pet relationships among adult survivors of CSA using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 adult survivors of CSA. Results identified the following themes: (a) close bond with pet; (b) idiosyncrasies within the human-pet relationship; (c) moral responsibility; (d) fundamental differences between pets and humans; (e) safety in the human-pet relationship; (f) resource for coping with painful experience; (g) positive impact on well-being; (h) buttress for human-human social interaction; (i) medium for skill and knowledge development; and (j) shortcomings of the human-pet relationship. Findings, implications for clinical practice, considerations and limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • human-animal bond
  • adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse
  • human-pet relationship
  • trauma

• Graduation date

  Fall 2018

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3N29PP3J

• License

  Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.