The Positive Influence of Dogs on Children in Divorce Crises from the Mother's Perspective and of the Child-Dog Relationship from the Child's Perspective.

Tanja Hoff, Dipl-Psych., Reinhold Bergler, Prof. Dr. (Institute for Psychology at the University of Bonn, Germany). Presented at the 9th International Conference on Human-Animal Interactions, People and Animals, A Global Perspective for the 21st Century, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 13-15, 2001.

The study examines the influence of a dog on 6-11 year-old children in phases of divorce from the mother's perspective and the quality of the child-dog relationship from the child's. 75 children with dogs were interviewed as well as their mothers, also 75 mothers of children without dogs. Demographically there were no significant differences between the two groups of mothers. Using standardized questionnaires mothers and children were interviewed on one occasion individually in confidential interview one year following the divorce. The statistic evaluation embraced mean value comparisons (t=test), factor and cluster analysis.

Results:

1. how deeply the mothers experienced the divorce from their perspective (accounted percent of total variance): Factor I (35.9%) Loss of joie de vivre and self-confidence; resignation; Factor II (12.5%) helplessness, powerlessness; Factor III (8%) fears, loneliness, worrying about the child; Factor IV (6.8%) relief and independence. These factors define how the mothers subjectively felt and also indicated the child's critical situation during the divorce phase.
2. Mothers felt this phase was developmental crisis for their children involving a variety of symptoms with manifold risks: Factor I (31.7%) aggressive behavior, trying to draw attention to themselves; Factor II (11.1%) psychosomatic problems; Factor III (7.0%) fears of a broken home, nightmares; Factor IV (5.5%) stronger ties to mother; Factor V (5.4%) attempts to reserve parent's separation; Factor VI (5.0%) denial. Compared with the control group, if there was a dog in the home, mothers reported significantly less aggressive behavior towards self and others (p<=.1) vandalism (p<=.06), highly affective irritability (p<=.06), and wanting to be the center of attention, clownish behavior (p<=.02) in the children.
3. The potential support a dog gives the child as experienced by mothers with a dog or expected by mothers without a dog show the manifold psychological effects the dog has: Factor I (37.4%) loving distraction and understanding friend; Factor II (12.2%) listener and partner to discuss problems with; Factor III (10.4%) comforter, Factor IV (9.0%) buffer for aggression
4. Children said the quality of the child-dog relationship in the divorce phase is marked by the psychological significance of a dog being
   1. a living companion indispensable in the crisis (95%);
   2. a companion for unquestioning, loving attention (88%);
   3. a companion to whom you can tell your problems, anger and rage (85%);
   4. an important help when worried as the dog distracts joyfully and playfully (84%);
5. a retreat free from conflict when parents quarrel (77%);
6. a considerable help when overcoming loneliness in a broken home (77%).

The present study thus proves the positive preventive effect a dog has for children in a time full of crises when parents divorce from both the mother's perspective and the child's.

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