Effects of the pandemic Covid-19 on perceptions and attitudes of adults towards pets
Published:
Feb 5, 2022
Keywords:
adults attitudes COVID-19 perceptions pets
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to detect the quality of adult interactions with pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the perceptions and attitudes of adults towards pets and the effects of the pandemic on the formation of perceptions and attitudes as well as on the concerns of adults regarding the transmission of COVID- 19 through pets. In addition, we investigated the relationships of adults' attitudes towards animals with their responses to the effects of the pandemic on their relationships with animals and the differences in these effects by sex, age group and animal ownership and companionship. We investigated the perceptions and the attidutes of adults based on an adapted relevant scale for parents of students to address adults in the general population. 787 adults from Greece participated in the present research. Results showed that the positive attitudes of adults towards pets were maintained during the COVID-19 period. Similarly, the negative attitudes of adults towards pets were maintained during the pandemic period, with participants blaming animals for transmitting the virus to humans. Through this empirical study, important issues emerge related to the benefits of adult interaction with pets, which are discussed in view of their future use in a variety of educational and clinical contexts.
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Markodimitraki, M., Linardakis, M., & Kypriotaki, M. (2022). Effects of the pandemic Covid-19 on perceptions and attitudes of adults towards pets. Psychology: The Journal of the Hellenic Psychological Society, 26(3), 181–196. https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.29338
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