| Abstract |
| This exploratory study investigated the effects of the interaction between the experience of social exclusion and the presence or absence of a companion animal on the psychological well-being of individuals. Participants answered questions about whether or not they were respected by the community (yes or no); whether or not they currently have a companion animal (yes or no); and if they do, what kind of animal(s) they raise (multiple answers allowed). The study also assessed the psychological well-being of the participants. The group that experienced social exclusion demonstrated lower levels of psychological well-being than the group that did not. In addition, the group that reported the presence of at least one companion animal evinced higher levels of psychological well-being than the group that did not. Individuals who experienced social exclusion but lived with at least one companion animal were found to display superior psychological well-being than those who could not avail of the company of an animal. No difference in psychological well-being was found between those with a companion animal and those without one in the group that did not experience social exclusion. In conclusion, this study observed the effects of the binary interactions between social exclusion (experienced vs. not experienced) and the existence of companion animals (presence vs. absence) on the psychological well-being of people. The empirical data offer theoretical implications for the conditions in which companion animals do or do not improve psychological well-being in humans. |
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| Key Words |
| Companion Animal, Happiness, Psychological Well-Being, Psycho-Social Needs, Social Exclusion, 반려동물, 행복, 심리적 안녕감, 심리사회적 욕구, 사회적 배제 |
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