The association between self-report health outcomes and the human-animal bond for a low-income sample

Abstract Background : The study’s main objective was to explore how human-animal interaction (HAI) and, particularly, bonding relate to overall health and psychological and social well-being in a housing-insecure sample. Methods : Participants were recruited from a pro bono veterinary care clinic and asked to complete questionnaires regarding physical and mental health (12-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-12]), psychological and social well-being (My Mood Monitor [M3], Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences [CAPE], Family Member Well-Being [FMWB], Drug Abuse Screening Test [DAST-10], Social Support Index [SSI], and the Financial Well-Being [FWB] scale), and HAI/bonding (Pet Attachment and Life Impact Scale [PALS]). Analyses to test relationships across variables included descriptive statistics, and nonparametric tests were used to examine correlations between subscales due to the violation of normality. Results : The overall findings indicate that those who reported higher levels of emotional and financial distress also reported greater bonding with their pets, although this did not include physical or other psychosocial challenges. Conclusion : Among housing-insecure individuals, stronger attachment to companion animals was associated with greater psychological and financial distress rather than improved health outcomes. Companion animals may serve as an important coping resource and source of emotional support for individuals experiencing significant life stressors.