Measuring Connections Between Children and Pets: Development of the Child–Dog Engagement Scale and Child–Cat Engagement Scale
As more families expand to include pets, it is important to explore how children interact and engage with them. While the past literature has focused on children’s involvement in animal-assisted therapy or their relationships with assistance animals, their everyday relationships with pets remain und...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1845 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850119133214015488 |
|---|---|
| author | Deanna L. Tepper Tiffani J. Howell Pauleen C. Bennett |
| author_facet | Deanna L. Tepper Tiffani J. Howell Pauleen C. Bennett |
| author_sort | Deanna L. Tepper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As more families expand to include pets, it is important to explore how children interact and engage with them. While the past literature has focused on children’s involvement in animal-assisted therapy or their relationships with assistance animals, their everyday relationships with pets remain understudied. Following expert discussion and focus groups, a sample of 319 parents/guardians completed a questionnaire on their child’s relationship with their pet. Analysis of the data resulted in the development of a 38-item Child–Dog Engagement Scale (C-DES) and a 29-item Child–Cat Engagement Scale (C-CES). Each of these measures three factors: Emotional Attachment, Engagement, and Challenges. The development of parallel child–dog and child–cat scales offers a way to measure children’s relationships across these species, while accounting for the different needs of these animals and the unique ways that children may interact and care for them. The scales therefore provide a foundation for future research exploring how children’s relationships with both cats and dogs may contribute to their development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-02e5aaffee84495fbded16791e41aac8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-02e5aaffee84495fbded16791e41aac82025-08-20T02:35:42ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011513184510.3390/ani15131845Measuring Connections Between Children and Pets: Development of the Child–Dog Engagement Scale and Child–Cat Engagement ScaleDeanna L. Tepper0Tiffani J. Howell1Pauleen C. Bennett2Anthrozoology Research Group, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC 3552, AustraliaAnthrozoology Research Group, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC 3552, AustraliaAnthrozoology Research Group, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC 3552, AustraliaAs more families expand to include pets, it is important to explore how children interact and engage with them. While the past literature has focused on children’s involvement in animal-assisted therapy or their relationships with assistance animals, their everyday relationships with pets remain understudied. Following expert discussion and focus groups, a sample of 319 parents/guardians completed a questionnaire on their child’s relationship with their pet. Analysis of the data resulted in the development of a 38-item Child–Dog Engagement Scale (C-DES) and a 29-item Child–Cat Engagement Scale (C-CES). Each of these measures three factors: Emotional Attachment, Engagement, and Challenges. The development of parallel child–dog and child–cat scales offers a way to measure children’s relationships across these species, while accounting for the different needs of these animals and the unique ways that children may interact and care for them. The scales therefore provide a foundation for future research exploring how children’s relationships with both cats and dogs may contribute to their development.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1845pet–owner relationshipschild–pet relationshipschild developmentpet carepet engagement |
| spellingShingle | Deanna L. Tepper Tiffani J. Howell Pauleen C. Bennett Measuring Connections Between Children and Pets: Development of the Child–Dog Engagement Scale and Child–Cat Engagement Scale Animals pet–owner relationships child–pet relationships child development pet care pet engagement |
| title | Measuring Connections Between Children and Pets: Development of the Child–Dog Engagement Scale and Child–Cat Engagement Scale |
| title_full | Measuring Connections Between Children and Pets: Development of the Child–Dog Engagement Scale and Child–Cat Engagement Scale |
| title_fullStr | Measuring Connections Between Children and Pets: Development of the Child–Dog Engagement Scale and Child–Cat Engagement Scale |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measuring Connections Between Children and Pets: Development of the Child–Dog Engagement Scale and Child–Cat Engagement Scale |
| title_short | Measuring Connections Between Children and Pets: Development of the Child–Dog Engagement Scale and Child–Cat Engagement Scale |
| title_sort | measuring connections between children and pets development of the child dog engagement scale and child cat engagement scale |
| topic | pet–owner relationships child–pet relationships child development pet care pet engagement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1845 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT deannaltepper measuringconnectionsbetweenchildrenandpetsdevelopmentofthechilddogengagementscaleandchildcatengagementscale AT tiffanijhowell measuringconnectionsbetweenchildrenandpetsdevelopmentofthechilddogengagementscaleandchildcatengagementscale AT pauleencbennett measuringconnectionsbetweenchildrenandpetsdevelopmentofthechilddogengagementscaleandchildcatengagementscale |