Exploring the human-bearded dragon animal bond: A qualitative content analysis of Reddit posts

Abstract The impact of companion animals on humans has been extensively investigated. Previous and current literature has overwhelmingly focused on traditional companion animals, such as cats and dogs. Despite many individuals living with non-traditional companion animals, the research surrounding the impact they have on our lives remains understudied in comparison to traditional companion animals. Bearded dragons are currently the most popular type of reptiles as non-traditional companion animals, yet the perceived biopsychosocial impacts they may have on individuals remain relatively unexplored. The present study aimed to answer the following research questions: (1) What topics do people post to a subreddit forum dedicated to bearded dragon guardians? and (2) What do posts to the bearded dragon subreddit forum suggest about the human-bearded dragon bond? The website Reddit was systematically searched for relevant online subreddit communities targeted toward people with bearded dragons. Posts made by individuals to the chosen subreddit were collected. A conventional qualitative content analysis was performed on 2903 posts, producing five overarching categories: (1) The human-animal bond between bearded dragons and humans; (2) Use of bearded dragon Reddit forum; (3) Health and medical concerns; (4) Psychological effects; and (5) Social effects. Findings provide insight into how individuals with bearded dragons used and engaged with the online Reddit forum as well as how they reported the human-bearded dragon animal bond. The novel findings reported in this study warrant further research to explore the unique bonds formed between humans and non-traditional companion animals, including further investigation regarding bearded dragons and the various effects they may have on human life.