Comparação entre bem-estar psicológico do tutor e problemas comportamentais no seu animal de companhia
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2015
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O Homem tem vindo a relacionar-se com cães e gatos há, pelo menos, 9 mil anos, sendo o vínculo homem-animal já bastante conhecido. Acredita-se mesmo que a relação entre homens e cães/gatos é uma das relações interespecíficas mais fortes e tem inúmeros benefícios para a saúde (física e mental) humana. Os benefícios para o animal, são ainda pouco conhecidos, tal como a influência das atitudes humanas no comporta-mento canino e felino.
O presente estudo tem como objetivo verificar se existe alguma relação entre o bem-estar psicológico do tutor (depressão, ansiedade e stresse) e a presença de proble-mas de comportamento no seu animal de companhia. Para isso, foi elaborado um ques-tionário para a caracterização do animal, do seu ambiente e do seu tutor, fazendo a ava-liação do bem-estar psicológico deste através da escala DASS. Os questionários foram preenchidos por tutores de cães e gatos em consultas de rotina e em consultas de com-portamento, conseguindo-se 78 questionários válidos.
Como principal resultado observou-se que os animais com problemas compor-tamentais possuem tutores com níveis de stresse mais elevados. Constatou-se também que tutores de animais castrados e com problemas comportamentais têm níveis de de-pressão mais altos. Verificou-se ainda que há mais tutores casados cujos animais apre-sentam problemas de comportamento e que estes animais são maioritariamente castra-dos e mais jovens. Existe ainda uma tendência para tutores de gatos serem mais stressa-dos, do que tutores de cães.
Conclui-se assim existir uma relação entre o bem-estar psicológico do tutor e a presença de problemas comportamentais no seu animal de companhia.
Humans have been relating to dogs and cats for at least 9 thousand years and the human animal bound is now well knowned. It is believed that this interspecific rela-tion is one of the strongest and has innumerous benefits for human physical and mental health. The animal benefits are less knowned as well the influence of human attitudes in canine and feline behavior. The objective of this study is to verify if there is any relation between owner’s psychological welfare (depression, anxiety and stress) and the presence of pet behavior problems. To do so, it was created a questionnaire to characterize the animal, his envi-ronment and the owner, doing his psychological welfare evaluation through the DASS scale. These questionnaires were delivered to dog and cat owners in routine and beha-vior consults, gathering 78 valid questionnaires. As principal result it was found that pets with behavior problems have owners with higher stress levels. Also, castrated pets with behavior problems have owners with higher depression levels. It was also found that there are more married owners with pets that have behavior problems. There is as well a tendency for cat owners to be more stressed than dog owners. With this study, it was demonstrated a relation between the owner psychologi-cal welfare and the pet behavior problems.
Humans have been relating to dogs and cats for at least 9 thousand years and the human animal bound is now well knowned. It is believed that this interspecific rela-tion is one of the strongest and has innumerous benefits for human physical and mental health. The animal benefits are less knowned as well the influence of human attitudes in canine and feline behavior. The objective of this study is to verify if there is any relation between owner’s psychological welfare (depression, anxiety and stress) and the presence of pet behavior problems. To do so, it was created a questionnaire to characterize the animal, his envi-ronment and the owner, doing his psychological welfare evaluation through the DASS scale. These questionnaires were delivered to dog and cat owners in routine and beha-vior consults, gathering 78 valid questionnaires. As principal result it was found that pets with behavior problems have owners with higher stress levels. Also, castrated pets with behavior problems have owners with higher depression levels. It was also found that there are more married owners with pets that have behavior problems. There is as well a tendency for cat owners to be more stressed than dog owners. With this study, it was demonstrated a relation between the owner psychologi-cal welfare and the pet behavior problems.
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Orientação: Gonçalo da Graça Pereira
Palavras-chave
MESTRADO INTEGRADO EM MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, VETERINÁRIA, ANIMAIS DE COMPANHIA, BEM-ESTAR PSICOLÓGICO, BEM-ESTAR ANIMAL, PROBLEMAS COMPORTAMENTAIS, DEPRESSÃO, ANSIEDADE, STRESS, COMPANION ANIMALS, PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING, ANIMAL WELFARE, BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS, DEPRESSION, STRESS, LIGAÇÃO HUMANO-ANIMAL, HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND, MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, VETERINARY MEDICINE, ANXIETY