Role of attachment in response to pet loss

Death Stud. 2009 Apr;33(4):334-55. doi: 10.1080/07481180802705783.

Abstract

This study examined the impact of attachment on grief severity following the death of a pet. Seventy-one participants who had lost a dog or cat within the past year completed a set of measures that included an attachment measure assessing individual differences in attachment anxiety and avoidance, strength of the past attachment to the pet, the continuing bond with the deceased pet, social support, and complicated grief symptoms. Attachment anxiety and strength of the past attachment to the pet were each uniquely predictive of more severe grief. Furthermore, the continuing bond to the deceased pet partially mediated the impact of strength of the past attachment to the pet on grief severity. No significant mediators of the effect of attachment anxiety on grief were found, however. The results highlight the importance of distinguishing strength of attachment from attachment security in examining the effect of attachment on response to pet loss.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic / psychology*
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Bereavement*
  • Cats
  • Death
  • Dogs
  • Grief*
  • Human-Animal Bond*
  • Humans
  • Models, Psychological*
  • Social Support