A Qualitative Analysis of Pets as Suicide Protection for Older People

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2162202
AutoresJanette Young (0000-0002-2284-3485, University of South Australia), Holly Bowen-Salter (University of South Australia), Henry Bowen (0000-0001-9629-6317), Lisel O’dwyer (Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia), Kristen Stevens (0000-0002-0042-8395, University of South Australia), Carmel Nottle (0000-0001-8649-3552, University of South Australia), Amy Baker (0000-0002-5550-0331, University of South Australia)
Año2020
Volumen33
Número2
Páginas191-205
Fecha de publicación2020-03-03
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAnthrozoös (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0892-7936 • E-ISSN: 1753-0377
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/08927936.2020.1719759
OpenAlexW3012409316
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas18
Referencias citadas40

An unanticipated finding during research on the role that pets play in the health of older adults was that pets had protected some from suicide. Given that older people are more vulnerable to fatal first attempts, understanding protective factors in this population is vital. Twelve older adults interviewed about the role of pets on their health spoke overtly of suicide (n = 2), obliquely referred to suicidal ideation (n = 5), or reported high levels of distress and/or depression (n = 5). These participants were aged 60 to 83 years; five were male and seven were female. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive thematic approach in order to understand how they (collectively) identified pets as protecting them from suicide. Concepts of function, presence, known-ness, and reciprocity emerged as factors protective against suicide. These factors may counter those already identified as underpinning suicidal behavior: perceived burdensomeness and social alienation. For some older people, relationships with nonhuman others may be protective against suicide. Systemic responses that incorporate human–animal relationship awareness need to be explored to promote and protect some humans while also considering the impact on pets

Distress · Environmental health · Poison control · Population · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Thematic analysis · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Zoonotic diseases and public health · Clinical Psychology