TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychosocial well-being and community participation of service dog partners
AU - Collins, Diane M.
AU - Fitzgerald, Shirley G.
AU - Sachs-Ericsson, Natalie
AU - Scherer, Marcia
AU - Cooper, Rory A.
AU - Boninger, Michael L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding provided by the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Centre Grant, F2181C, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs Grant AHRRFP Pre-Doctoral Fellowship. We would like to thank Paws With a Cause® and Canine Companions for Independence for their support in our research endeavors.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Purpose. This cross-sectional study examined whether partnering with service dogs influenced psychosocial well-being and community participation of adult individuals using wheelchairs or scooters. Method. One hundred and fifty-two people were recruited and group-matched, resulting in 76 participants with and 76 without service dogs. Standardized scale scores for affect, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and loneliness were used to operationally define psychosocial well-being. Community participation was assessed with the Social Integration domain of the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique. Results. Psychosocial characteristics did not differ significantly between those partnered with and without service dogs overall. However, of participants with progressive conditions, those with service dogs demonstrated significantly higher positive affect scores than comparison group participants. Among those with clinical depression, service dog partners scored significantly higher in positive affect. Finally, regardless of whether individuals had service dogs, fewer depressive symptoms and being female or married were predictors of greater community participation. Conclusion. Select individuals may experience psychosocial benefits from partnering with service dogs. However, it is unclear if these benefits might also be derived from companion dogs. Further research is needed to substantiate the findings of this study.
AB - Purpose. This cross-sectional study examined whether partnering with service dogs influenced psychosocial well-being and community participation of adult individuals using wheelchairs or scooters. Method. One hundred and fifty-two people were recruited and group-matched, resulting in 76 participants with and 76 without service dogs. Standardized scale scores for affect, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and loneliness were used to operationally define psychosocial well-being. Community participation was assessed with the Social Integration domain of the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique. Results. Psychosocial characteristics did not differ significantly between those partnered with and without service dogs overall. However, of participants with progressive conditions, those with service dogs demonstrated significantly higher positive affect scores than comparison group participants. Among those with clinical depression, service dog partners scored significantly higher in positive affect. Finally, regardless of whether individuals had service dogs, fewer depressive symptoms and being female or married were predictors of greater community participation. Conclusion. Select individuals may experience psychosocial benefits from partnering with service dogs. However, it is unclear if these benefits might also be derived from companion dogs. Further research is needed to substantiate the findings of this study.
KW - Affect
KW - community participation
KW - depressive symptoms
KW - disability
KW - service dogs
KW - wheelchairs
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U2 - 10.1080/09638280500167183
DO - 10.1080/09638280500167183
M3 - Article
C2 - 19256166
AN - SCOPUS:64549094712
SN - 1748-3107
VL - 1
SP - 41
EP - 48
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
IS - 1-2
ER -