The Role of Animal Companions in the Bereavement Experiences of Australian Lesbians and Gay Men

Bibliographic Data

ID13629796
AuthorsD W Riggs (0000-0003-0961-9099, Flinders University, corresponding author), Lefteris Patlamazoglou (0000-0003-2514-8362, Monash University), Janette Graetz Simmonds (0000-0003-0259-4095, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute), Tristan Snell (0000-0001-7337-8299, Monash University)
Year2024
Volume93
Issue1
Pages245-257
Publication date2024-02-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00302228241237282
PMID38416602
OpenAlexW4392242700
LanguageEN
References cited18

All too often, humans who experience the death of a partner are directed towards other humans for support, ignoring the important role that animal companions play in the lives of many humans. For lesbians and gay men specifically - whose grief may be disenfranchised - animal companions may play a particularly important role. This paper reports on a secondary analysis of interviews with 10 Australian lesbians or gay men who had lost a partner due to non-HIV related issues. Six of the participants spoke impromptu about the importance of animal companions following the death of a partner. Thematic analysis resulted in the development of three themes: (1) animals provide comfort and company, (2) animals serve as a reminder of partners, and (3) animals give people a reason to go on. The paper concludes by considering the importance of speaking about animals in the context of research and practice related to human bereavement

Animal welfare · Context (archaeology · Grief · Impromptu · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology