The Impact of Owning a Guide Dog on Owners' Quality of Life

A Longitudinal Study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2162196
AutoresSara Mciver (University of Lincoln), Sophie S Hall (0000-0002-9847-8269, autor de correspondencia), Sophie Hall (University of Lincoln), Daniel S Mills (0000-0002-4765-9625, University of Lincoln)
Año2020
Volumen33
Número1
Páginas103-117
Fecha de publicación2020-01-02
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAnthrozoös (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0892-7936 • E-ISSN: 1753-0377
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/08927936.2020.1694315
OpenAlexW3000472270
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas63

Quality of life (QOL) is generally understood to be an individual’s subjective view of how 24 they feel about different aspects and experiences in their life. Previous studies have reported 25 many positive benefits of owning assistance dogs on their owners’ lives, but these have been 26 largely cross-sectional studies and QOL has not been considered in guide dog owners. A 27 longitudinal cohort study was undertaken using the Flanagan quality of life questionnaire to 28 compare individuals on the UK guide dog national waiting list and established guide dog 29 owners at two time points. Data collected from both time points were compared between 30 three groups: those who remained on the waiting list throughout the study (n = 17), those who 31 acquired a guide dog during the study (n = 15) and established guide dog owners (n = 14). 32 Analysis comparing the effect of ‘group’ was conducted on individual questionnaire items as 33 well as total quality of life score. Individuals who acquired a guide dog during the study 34 showed a significant increase in perceptions of independence in comparison to those who 35 remained on the waiting list. In general, those in the established guide dog group and those 36 who acquired a guide dog demonstrated increased perceived QOL over time, but those who 37 remained on the waiting list showed a decrease. Effect size was highest on items relating to 38 health, material comforts, independence and total QOL. Comparison with previous research 39 looking at QOL with hearing dog and physical assistance dog partners showed that guide dog 40 ownership may be specifically associated with perceived gains in terms of material comforts 41 and inter-personal relationships

Animal welfare · Animal-assisted therapy · Depression (economics · HUBzero · Independence (probability theory · Longitudinal study · Pathology · Pet therapy · Quality of life (healthcare · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health · Gerontology