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Role Of Pet Ownership on Perceived Stress, Life Satisfaction and Positive Affect in Young

Adults – A Comparative Study

Research Proposal

For the completion of M.Sc. Clinical Psychology

Department of Clinical Sciences

School of Health Sciences and Technology

MIT World Peace University, Pune

Submitted by:

Ishika Kota

ERP: 1102230018

Submitted to:

Dr. Heenakshi Bhansali

Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences

School of Health Sciences and Technology

MIT World Peace University, Pune

Date: 18th October 2024, Friday

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Table of Content

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………..4

Review of Literature. ……………………………………………………………………………..5

Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………....7

Research Statement……………………………………………………………………..…7

Research Purpose………………………………………………………………………….7

Research Design…………………………………………………………………………...8

Operational Definitions……………………………………………………………………8

Hypothesis. ………………………………………………………………………………..9

Sample Description………………………………………………………………………10

Measurement Tools………………………………………………………………………11

Procedure………………………………………………………………………………...12

Statistical Analysis……………………………………………………………………….12

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….14

Limitations……………………………………………………………………………………….15

Application……………………………………………………………………………………….16

References………………………………………………………………………………………..17
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Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………………19

Appendix A………………………………………………………………………………19

Appendix B………………………………………………………………………………21

Appendix C………………………………………………………………………………22

Appendix D………………………………………………………………………………24

Appendix E………………………………………………………………………………25

Appendix F……………………………………………………………………………….26
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Role Of Pet Ownership on Perceived Stress, Life Satisfaction and Positive Affect in Young

Adults – A Comparative Study

Introduction

Pet animals and humans have always had a close relationship. They offer each other support and

comfort. The benefits of owning a pet are and include both psychological and physical benefits.

There are 2.44 million pet cats and more than 31 million pet dogs in India. (Fowler, 2024). The

importance of animals in our lives can be explained as a mutually beneficial interaction between

humans and other animals, which is affected by behaviors that help the health and well-being of

both humans and animals (Wollrab, 1998). This concept has related animals as family and

friends, making them an important part of many people's daily lives. The human-animal concept

has also encouraged the common belief that pets improve people's physical and mental well-

being.

As they go from youth to adulthood, young adults frequently face challenges. Constant changes

in academic, professional, and personal life characterise this time, which may have an effect on

perceived stress and life satisfaction of an individual. Pets are companion animals. Pets like dogs

and cats provide emotional support, promote social contact, and give people a sense of purpose

in their everyday lives. The concept of the "pet effect” states that having a pet at home benefits

both your physical and mental health and increases the likelihood that you will live a long and

cheerful life (Allen, 2003).

There is a shortage of study on the significance of pets in the lives of young adults in India. The

purpose of this study is to investigate how young adults' (usually between the ages of 18 and 25)
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perception of stress, life satisfaction, and positive affect are affected by having a pet.

Review of Literature

Chinese pet owners' perceptions of stress and pet ownership were examined in a study (Wu et al.,

2018). 288 adult Hong Kong Chinese pet owners between the ages of 18 and 70 were selected.

Details including demographics, pet ownership duration and pet attachment were collected. The

researchers used a self-report questionnaire to measure the perceived stress of the participants.

According to the study's findings, pet owners who felt a closer link with their pets were less

stressed.

A second study was conducted to find out if students and social work clinicians who had pets

reported feeling less stressed than those who did not own pets. According to the study's findings,

stress levels lowered with greater pet attachment, and pet owners reported comparatively lower

levels of stress than non-owners. (Acheson, 2014)

Adolescent males undergoing inpatient treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) were the

subjects for a study (Ellsworth et al., 2016) that examined the impact of a human-animal

interaction program using dogs from an animal shelter. According to the results, participants'

attitudes towards the dog-interaction activities were more positive than those towards the

traditional intervention activities, and the dog-interaction activities caused an improvement in

affect, particularly within negative affect dimensions.

Another study's objective was to investigate the psychological health, perceived stress, and

coping mechanisms of both pet owners and non-owners of dogs, cats, or both. For this study,

Bengali men and women aged 20 to 25 who owned pets and those who did not were selected.
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The General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg, 1978), the Coping Check List 2 (Rao K et al.

1989), and the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen S et al. 1983) were used. According to the findings,

pet owners are more likely to have good psychological health, use healthier coping mechanisms

like problem-focused thinking, positive diversion, acceptance, and to feel less stressed than non-

owners. (Sarkar et al., 2022)

The stress levels and life satisfaction of dog owners and non-owners were compared in a study

(Singh et al., 2016). A sample size of 100, comprising 50 dog owners and 50 non-owners, was

used. Participants fell in age range from 20 to 30 years old and were chosen from a higher

socioeconomic background. According to the study, those who had dogs expressed greater life

pleasure and less stress than those who did not.

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Methodology

Research Statement

To compare the levels of Perceived Stress, Life Satisfaction and Positive Affect in Young adults

who own pets and those who do not own pets.

Research Purpose

Understanding the effects of pet ownership on young adults' stress levels, life satisfaction, and

the degree of their pleasant emotions is the aim of this study. More specifically, this study seeks

to investigate whether young adults who have pets report lower levels of perceived stress, greater

life satisfaction, and more positive emotions than their counterparts who are do not live with

pets. This study intends to explore how the way pets provide emotional reassurance can serve as

a protective factor while enhancing life satisfaction and positive emotions for this particular

group of individuals.

Through this understanding, the focus is to present empirical evidence that will expand the

current knowledge on the role of pets in sustaining and improving the health and well-being of

humans. The findings from this study may highlight the possible role of pets as alternative

sources of emotional support and wellbeing in times of stress and this may spring to great

importance for mental health practitioners, teachers, and the young people themselves.
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Research Design

In this study, the Comparative Research design comparing pet owners to non-pet owners will be

used. In research, a comparative study is a kind of study that compares two or more groups to

identify their differences and similarities. The objective is to state how various variables or

factors impact the groups in different ways. Comparative research assists in identifying the

differences and similarities between two or more groups with respect to specific features or

findings. For this research, a cross-sectional study will be conducted. A cross-sectional study is

one which investigates a sample of a group at only one point in time and focuses on explaining

some of the circumstances, behaviors, or characteristics of that population at that particular time.

This method is useful for finding or linking any patterns or differences of groups in the variables

under investigation.

Operational Definition

1. Perceived Stress: The degree to which people feel overwhelmed or incapable of

handling the demands of life is known as perceived stress. Stress is a natural reaction

which is a worried or tense state of mind caused by a difficult situation. Perceived stress

is an individual’s perception of their stress.

2. Life Satisfaction: A person's total evaluation of their quality of life is known as life

satisfaction. It is a subjective dimension that represents a person's evaluation of their own

standards, beliefs, and goals when it comes to their quality of life.

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3. Positive affect: Happiness, pride, excitement, vitality, and joy are examples of positive

feelings and expressions that are referred to as positive affectivity. It shows how full of

vitality, activity, and excitement a person has for life.

4. Pet Ownership: In this study, pet ownership refers to the condition of an individual who

has a dog or cat or both in their care living with them. Pet owners are defined as those

who regularly interact with and provide care for a pet, including feeding, grooming, and

engaging in recreational activities like walks and playtime with the pet.

5. Non pet owners’ group: Young adults who do not currently live with a dog or cat or

both.

6. Young Adults: Individuals who fall between the age range of 18-25

Hypothesis

- Hypothesis (H01) There will be no significant difference in perceived stress levels

between young adults who own pets and those who do not own pets.

- Hypothesis (H02) There will be no significant difference in life satisfaction levels

between young adults who own pets and those who do not own pets.

- Hypothesis (H03) There will be no significant difference in positive affect levels between

young adults who own pets and those who do not own pets.
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Sample Description

The ideal sample size for this research would be 385 participants according to Raosoft. The

sample would be 385 young adults that will be separated into two categories: those who own pets

and those who do not. Purposive sampling will be used to choose the sample. Purposive

sampling is an approach of non-probability sampling method in which researchers choose

individuals according to specific criteria such as characteristics, abilities, or backgrounds. The

pet owners’ group will consist of individuals who own pets (dogs or cats) in their care living with

them. They regularly interact with their pets with activities like feeding, grooming, going on

walks etc. On the other hand, the non-pet owners’ group would include individuals who do not

currently live with a pet (dog or cat). All the individuals included in this sample would be Indian

citizens between the age group of 18-25. He/she would not be diagnosed with any mental

disorder at any given time.

Sample inclusion criteria

1. The participant should be a resident of India

2. The participant should be a young adult between the age range of 18-25

3. Pet owners’ group: The participant should currently own a pet (dog or cat)

4. Non pet owners’ group: The participant should not currently own a pet (dog or cat)

Sample exclusion criteria

1. The participant should not be a non-resident Indian

2. The participant should not be diagnosed with any mental health disorder
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Measurement Tools

1. Consent Forms: In accordance with ethical research guidelines, participants will be

requested to read and submit informed consent prior to beginning the survey. The goal of

the study, a confidentiality clause, the duration of the survey, and confirmation of consent

will be stated in the consent form.

2. Demographic Details: In the next part of the online survey the participants will be

required to fill in basic details such as Name, Age, Sex, Occupation, Location, email ID.

3. Pet Ownership Details: For participants who own pets, additional details regarding their

pet will be collected such as type of pet, duration of pet ownership, time spent with the

pet on an average everyday and activities engaged in with the pet.

4. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (Cohen et al., 1983): This tool was originally developed in

1983. A 5-point rating system, ranging from never (0) to almost always (4), is used for

each item. Since items with positive wording are reverse scored, the ratings are added up,

with higher scores denoting higher levels of perceived stress. According to reports,

Cronbach's α ranged from.84 to. The PSS's test-retest reliability was.85. Correlation of

the PSS to other measures of comparable symptoms ranges between .52-.76 (Cohen et al.,

1983).

5. Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, 1985): The SWLS is a five-item inventory

with a 7-point scale. Participants respond to each item ranging from 1 (strongly disagree)

to 7 (strongly agree). Individual scores are added to create a total score ranging from 5 to

35The SWLS has high internal consistency, with an alpha coefficient of around 0.87

(Weber et al., 2015)

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6. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) (Watson et al., 1988): The Positive and

Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a self-report questionnaire that consists of two 10-

item scales to measure both positive and negative affect. Every item has a 5-point rating

system, with 1 denoting "not at all" and 5 denoting "very much." The PANAS has been

reported to have very good internal consistency reliability, with alphas ranging from 0.85

to 0.90 for Positive Affect and from 0.84 to 0.87 for Negative Affect (Crawford & Henry,

2004; Heubeck & Wilkinson, 2019).

Procedure

1. Participants will be briefed about the research

2. Participants will be sent online forms

3. Participants will be requested to respond as honestly as possible

4. Anonymity of the participants will be assured and confidentiality will be maintained

5. After the results are concluded the participants will be briefed about the results

6. All the referenced would be credited and cited appropriately

Statistical Analysis

The acquired data would be statistically examined. The data sets collected during the study

would be compared by computing the total scores of people and comparing the findings between

the two groups. Independent sample T test will be the proposed statistical technique for the

current study. The dependent variables of perceived stress, life satisfaction, and positive affect

are compared between the means of two independent groups (pet owners and non-pet owners)
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using the Independent Sample t-test statistical method. Whether pet owners and non-owners of

pets differ significantly in these factors will be established by this study.

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Conclusion

To sum up, this study proposal aims to perform a comparative analysis to examine how young

adults' perceptions of stress, life satisfaction, and positive affect are impacted by pet ownership.

The purpose of the study is to ascertain whether pet owners experience less stress, more positive

emotions, and greater life satisfaction than non-owners. It accomplishes this by a thorough

statistical analysis and standardized assessment methods.

The study's findings may help explain the positive impacts pets have on mental health and may

be useful to young people seeking stress-reduction and life-satisfaction methods. Ultimately, this

study will improve our comprehension of the psychological benefits of pet ownership and direct

more research in this field.

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Limitations

1. Generalizability: Difficulty to include every person representative of the diverse

backgrounds in the population.

2. Self-Reporting: Difficulty in getting any credible responses that are not over the top and

neutral. Might lead to assumptions that are biased.

3. Confounding Variables: It is possible that there are other field or behavioral factors which

may affect the results of the study

4. Design: The limitations of time has made it difficult to carry out a Longitudinal study

which would have provided richer understanding of the topic.

5. Cause and Effect Relationship: There will be a lack of establishing a firm cause and

effect relationship between the variables.

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Applications

1. The growth of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) programs in schools, colleges, and

counselling centers as a therapeutic tool may be supported if the study shows a significant

importance of pet ownership.

2. By integrating pet therapy, emotional support animals, or Pets activities as a stress-

reduction activity for young people, mental health professionals might improve the

existing mental health programs.

3. The results might also help solve the problem of stray dogs and cats in India by providing

evidence for the need to embrace pet ownership.

4. The results may be used by colleges, universities, and employers in enhancing the pet

friendliness of student hostels.

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References

1. Acheson, K. E., (2014) Pet ownership and perceived stress in social work students and

clinicians. Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/733

2. Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress.

Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396.

3. Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life

Scale. Journal of personality assessment, 49(1), 71–75.

https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13

4. Ellsworth, Lindsay & Tragesser, Sarah & Newberry, Ruth. (2016). Interaction with

Shelter Dogs Reduces Negative Affect of Adolescents in Substance Use Disorder

Treatment. Anthrozoös. 29. 247-262. 10.1080/08927936.2016.1152719.

5. Fowler, C. (2024, July 27). 14 India pet ownership statistics to know in 2024. Dogster.

https://www.dogster.com/statistics/pet-ownership-statistics-india

6. Heubeck, B. G., & Boulter, E. (2021). PANAS Models of Positive and Negative

Affectivity for Adolescent Boys. Psychological Reports, 124(1), 240-247.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294120905512

7. Singh, K., Sharma, S.K., & Pragyendu (2016). Role of Dogs in Life Satisfaction and

Stress Reduction : A Comparative Study

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8. Sarkar, S., Ghosh, S. & Bose, N. (2022). Psychological Wellbeing, Perceived Stress,

Coping Strategy of The Bengali Young Adult Pet Owners. International Journal of Indian

Psychology, 10(4),1596-1603. DIP:18.01.152.20221004, DOI:10.25215/1004.152

9. Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief

measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. Journal of personality and

social psychology, 54(6), 1063.

10. Weber, Marco & Harzer, Claudia & Huebner, E. & Hills, Kimberly. (2015). Measures of

Life Satisfaction Across the Lifespan. 10.1016/B978-0-12-386915-9.00005-X.

11. Wollrab, T.I. Human-animal bond issues. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc.; 1998; 212, 1675.

12. Wu, C. S. T., Wong, R. S. M., & Chu, W. H. (2018). The Association of Pet Ownership

and Attachment with Perceived Stress among Chinese Adults. Anthrozoös, 31(5), 577–

586. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2018.1505269
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Appendix

Appendix A: Consent Form

Hello,

I am Ishika Kota, a student from the department of M.Sc., Clinical Psychology at MIT- World

Peace University, Pune. As a part of the curriculum, I am expected to conduct research

(dissertation). This study aims to examine how pet ownership affects perceived stress, life

satisfaction, and positive affect in young adults. This study will compare pet owners and non-pet

owners to explore any differences in these psychological factors.

If you choose to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete an online survey, which

will include questions about your demographic information, pet ownership details (if applicable),

and several standardized questionnaires to measure perceived stress, life satisfaction, and

positive affect. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. You are free to withdraw from the study

at any point without any penalty. You may also choose to skip any question that makes you

uncomfortable.

There are no foreseeable risks associated with participating in this study. Although there are no

direct benefits to you, your participation will contribute to a better understanding of the

psychological effects of pet ownership in young adults.

Your responses will be completely anonymous. No identifying information (such as your name

or email) will be linked to your responses. All data will be stored securely and will be used solely
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for research purposes. The results of the study may be published, but your identity will not be

revealed.

If you have any questions about the study, you are encouraged to contact the Ishika Kota at

[email protected].

By clicking the checkbox below, you confirm that:

• You have read and understood the information provided above.

• You voluntarily agree to participate in this research.

• You are between the ages of 18 and 25.

• You understand that you may withdraw from the study at any time.
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Appendix B: Demographic details

Please provide the following information. Your responses will remain confidential and

anonymous.

1. Age: _________

2. Sex:

• Male

• Female

• Other ______

• Prefer not to say

3. Occupation:

• Undergraduate Student

• Postgraduate Student

• Employed

• Other (Please specify) [Text Field]

4. Location (City/State/Country): ___________

5. Email ID (Optional, for follow-up or result-sharing purposes): _________

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Appendix C: Pet Ownership Details (If Applicable)

6. Do you currently own a pet?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

If “No”, you may proceed to the next section:

If "Yes", please answer the following questions:

7. What type of pet do you own? _______

8. How long have you owned this pet? _______

Please answer the following questions about your relationship with your pet, using the following

scale:

1 = Strongly Disagree

2 = Disagree

3 = Neutral

4 = Agree

5 = Strongly Agree

• I feel very attached to my pet.

• I frequently engage in activities with my pet.

• I have a strong relationship with my pet.

• My pet provides me with a lot of emotional support.

• Spending time with my pet reduces my stress levels.

• I often talk to or communicate with my pet.

• I miss my pet when I am away from it.

• I involve my pet in my daily routine (e.g., meals, relaxation time, sleeping).

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• I am satisfied with the amount of time I dedicate to my pet.

• Taking care of my pet sometimes causes me stress.

• My pet contributes significantly to my overall well-being.

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Appendix D: Perceived Stress Scale

For each question choose from the following alternatives:

0 = never

1 = almost never

2 = sometimes

3 = fairly often

4 = very often

• In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that happened

unexpectedly?

• In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important

things in your life?

• In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?

• In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle your

personal problems?

• In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?

• In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things

that you had to do?

• In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in your life?

• In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?

• In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that happened that

were outside of your control?

• In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that you

could not overcome them?

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Appendix E: Life Satisfaction Scale

Below are five statements that you may agree or disagree with. Using the 1 -

7 scale below, indicate your agreement with each item by placing the appropriate number

on the line preceding that item. Please be open and honest in your responding.

7 = Strongly agree

6 = Agree

5 = Slightly agree

4 = Neither agree nor disagree

3 = Slightly disagree

2 = Disagree

1 = Strongly disagree

• In most ways my life is close to my ideal.

• The conditions of my life are excellent.

• I am satisfied with my life.

• So far I have gotten the important things I want in life.

• If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.

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Appendix F: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule

Please indicate to what extent you have felt the following emotions in the past week using the

scale below:

1 = Very slightly or not at all

2 = A little

3 = Moderately

4 = Quite a bit

5 = Extremely

• Interested

• Excited

• Strong

• Enthusiastic

• Proud

• Alert

• Inspired

• Determined

• Attentive

• Active

• Upset

• Hostile

• Ashamed

• Nervous
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• Afraid

• Jittery

• Irritable

• Guilty

• Distressed

• Scared