Predictors, Mechanisms, and Diversity in Human-Animal Interaction Research
Abstract
There has been substantial growth in recent decades in the variety and popularity of roles for dogs assisting humans in professional therapeutic partnerships. Simultaneously, increasingly rigorous research has repeatedly demonstrated the effects of professional human-canine partnerships in remedying important issues of public health among several at-risk populations. Yet, despite these areas of growth, mechanisms of action and predictors of efficacy in the field of human-animal interaction (HAI) remain poorly understood, and the role of human diversity has been rarely discussed. Thus, the present dissertation examines potential mechanisms and diverse predictors in two distinct samples of professional human-canine partnerships, while building the impetus to explore diversity in the HAI field as a whole. For the first three studies (Chapters 2-4), the selected samples of professional human-canine partnerships include military veterans working with psychiatric service dogs to mediate their symptoms of PTSD and healthcare professionals in pediatric hospitals working with facility dogs to benefit their patients. Following the introduction in Chapter 1, the objective of Chapters 2-3 was to examine primary human outcomes in the selected professional canine partnerships. In a cross-sectional study of N=198 military veterans with PTSD, Chapter 2 compared PTSD symptom severity between n=112 veterans with service dogs and n=86 veterans on the waitlist to receive service dogs in the future. Next, in a cross-sectional study of N=130 healthcare professionals in pediatric hospitals, Chapter 3 compared job-related well-being and mental health of n=65 professionals working with facility dogs to n=65 working without. Findings suggested benefits to the mental health and well-being of both military veterans with PTSD and pediatric healthcare professionals, which were significantly associated with their professional canine partnerships. Subsequently, the objective of Chapter 4 was to explore how variances within a specific professional canine partnership may suggest predictors and potential mechanisms for the observed human outcomes. Thus, in a longitudinal study of N=82 veterans with PTSD and their service dogs, Chapter 4 explored associations of veterans’ outcomes with veteran-service dog demographics and interactions. Results suggested components of the human-canine partnership which might explain observed human outcomes, including social connections, a calming influence, and strong human-animal bonds. In pursuing the aim of examining diverse predictors of efficacy in professional human-canine partnerships, vastly homogenous samples in the first three studies (Chapters 2-4) prompted an additional, more targeted look at diversity in the HAI field overall. Thus, the objective of Chapter 5 was to explore diverse representativeness, as well as perceptions about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), among field leaders. Results of this chapter quantified the lack of diversity in the field at present while also indicating that the majority of field leaders find the topic of diversity in HAI to be extremely important. Finally, the necessity and implications of considering these topics in HAI research was described, and proposed strategies for promoting DEI in the field were collated from the existing best practice resources and recommendations of DEI experts. Overall, this research provides an innovative and novel roadmap for examining potential mechanisms of action in professional human-canine partnerships. Further, this work reveals important information about how considerations of DEI and representativeness within the field may inform the study of such human-animal partnerships. Thus, findings contribute to a critical foundation on which the field of human-animal interaction will continue building knowledge of functional processes, predictors of efficacy, and cultural competency.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
O’Haire, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Animal sciences|Clinical psychology|Gender studies|Health care management|Management|Mental health|Psychology|Therapy
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