Posttraumatic Growth and Pets – Does Species Matter? Whitney Dominick, M.S., and Kanako Taku, Ph.D. Abstract Pets can facilitate social support, and more time spent with pets corresponded to higher relational Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). However, most studies have focused on dogs, and don’t compare the impact of differing species. Undergraduate students completed a survey assessing PTG and number of pets of each species. More dogs resulted in higher total PTG and Personal Strength. Dogs did not impact Relating to Others or Appreciation of life, but owning more cats resulted in lower growth. Additionally, dog owners perceived higher Total and Personal Strength PTG than cat owners. Dog owners had higher Appreciation of Life than bird/small mammals or multiple species owners. However, multiple species owners had higher Personal Strength PTG than cat owners. Pet species impacts PTG, and differs based on domain. Dogs correspond to more growth across domains, while cat ownership seems to detract from personal growth. Demographics Discussion Method Inclusion Criteria: 18+ Undergraduate students Completed pets & PTG measures Procedure and Measures: Pen/paper survey assessing: Pets owned, number of each species Posttraumatic Growth Inventory Participants: 340 undergraduate students Age: Mage= 20.31 (SD = 3.49) Gender: 76.6% female Owned Pets: 77.9%, n = 265 Species owned: Dog: n = 127 Cat: n = 25 Bird/small mammals: n = 9 Multiple species: n = 81 Conclusions: Results partially support our hypothesis. Pet species significantly affects PTG. Impact differs across PTG domains. Owning dogs results in the most growth across domains. Dogs provide social support and physiological benefits (Handlin et al., 2011), improving perceptions of personal growth and capabilities. Current findings imply therapy with dogs may be effective at increasing personal growth. Owning cats results in less growth across domains. Owning multiple cats may be attempts to supplement a lonely life. Cats may be expected to be more social than they typically are . Significance Species of pets needs to be considered when assessing growth. Dogs may be more beneficial after a trauma that cats. Limitations: Generalizability Perception of social support not assessed Future Directions: Impact on traumatized individuals for Animal Assisted Therapy. Abstract: Check if there are any abstract requirements. Usually we put an abstract on the posters, even if small. However, if you do not need one an don’t want one should be fine. Introduction: For the significance, I wouldn’t say no research because someone might have we just don’t know!, but few research have . . . (a common phrase in manuscripts) Results Significant differences: Personal Strength Dog > cat owners Multiple Species > cats F(3,243) = 3.62, p=.014 Significant differences: Appreciation of Life Dog > birds/small mammals Dogs > multiple species F(3,241) =3.51, p=.016 Introduction Background Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) is the positive psychological change that may be experienced after a highly stressful life event. (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) Social support is a key predictor of PTG. (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004) Pet ownership facilitates social support. (Wood et al., 2014) More time spent with pets corresponded to higher growth in the relational domain of PTG in adolescents. (Dominick, Duronio, Walenski, & Taku, 2017). Purpose: To asses the impact of species of pets on PTG (total and domains) in undergraduates.   Hypothesis: PTG would differ based on species owned, with dog and cat owners reporting higher growth than those owning other species.   Significant differences: Total PTG Dog > cat owners F(3,241) = 3.02, p=.031 Total PTG R2 R2 Change F p-value Beta Step 1 - demographics 3.9% F(6,248) = 3.35 p = .028 Step 2 - # of Pets 8.9% 4.9% F(9, 248) = 2.59 p = .007 Predictors – Dogs p = .030 Β = .15 Domain Model Model R2 F p-value Beta Personal Strength Step 1 Step 2 3.8% 8.7% F(3,247) = 3.22 F(9,241) = 2.56 p= .023 p= .008 Predictors p = .028 p= .041 Gender: B =.13 Dogs: B = .14 Relating to Others 1.5% 3.4% F(3,247) = 1.22 F(9,241) = 1.97 p = .304 p = .044 p = .031 Cats: B = -.14 Appreciation of Life 16.8% 25.6% F(3,245) = 2.37 F(9,239) = 1.86 p = .071 p = .058 Age: B = .13 Dominick, Duriono, Walenski, & Taku, (2019). The impact of pets on Posttraumatic Growth and Stress Symptoms in adolescents. Anthrozoos, under review. Handlin, L., Nilsson, A., Ejdeback, M., Hydbring-Sanderg, E., & Uvnas-Moberg, K. (2011). Associations between the psychological characteristics of the human-dog relationship and oxytocin and cortisol levels. Anthrozoos, 25, 215-228. doi: 10.2752/175303712X13316289505468 Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L.G. (1996). The posttraumatic growth inventory: Measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress. Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Target article: "posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence". Psychological Inquiry, 15, 1-18. doi: 10.1207/s15327965pli1501_01 Wood, L., Martin, K., Christian, H., Nathan, A., Lauritsen, C., Houghton, S., . . . McCune, S. (2014). The pet factor—Companion animals as a conduit for getting to know people, friendship formation and social support. PLoS ONE, 10, 17. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122085 References Presented at the American Psychological Association August 10th, 2019 Contact: wdominick@oakland.edu; taku@oakland.edu