Abstract
The purpose of the following review is to evaluate current literature on animal abuse including animal hoarding and zoophilia to identify demographic characteristics of adults who abuse animals. The review was conducted by using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) Checklist 2009 (Moher et al., 2010). As the body of this research is still limited there were no restrictions regarding the level of evidence of studies made. A total of 40 studies met the selection criteria and were included in the review. The present review’s main findings suggest that animal hoarders are mostly female and between their fifties and sixties. In contrast individuals who engage in nonsexual abuse are more likely to be male and younger (20–35 years). Several comorbid clinical symptoms could be identified in animal abusers such as depression, autism, or substance abuse. Overall, the phenomenon of animal abuse remains an underresearched area of study and studies are characterized by limited levels of evidence. The present review may contribute to a deeper understanding of animal abuse with the objective of prevention and the development of multiprofessional management strategies.
Recommended Citation
Emmett, Lisa; Kasacek, Nina; and Stetina, Birgit Ursula
(2021)
"Demographic Characteristics of Individuals Who Abuse Animals: A Systematic Review,"
People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice: Vol. 4
:
Iss.
1,
Article 3.
Available at:
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/paij/vol4/iss1/3
