Jennifer Currin-Mcculloch
Biographic Data
| ID | 4215028 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jennifer Currin-Mcculloch |
| GIVEN NAMES | Jennifer |
| FAMILY NAME | Currin-Mcculloch |
| SIGNATURE | CURRIN-MCCULLOCH J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Colorado State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7244-4239 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 22 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
The struggle to juggle
Background : Cancer survivors face unique challenges in caring for their pets during treatment and recovery, as they attempt to balance their own personal health needs with their pets’ care and well-being. Pets may offer emotional and relational benefits during this period, yet survivors may also experience significant burdens and stress associated with caregiving. Methods : This qualitative study used reflexive thematic analysis to explore cance…
Purpose through partnership
Background : Animal-assisted services (AAS), including therapy, education, and support programs, have become increasingly valued as a resource for improved human physical and emotional health. Despite this growth, little empirical attention has been given to the volunteers who make AAS possible. Understanding what drives their participation, how they internalize their role identity, and how their relationships with their animals contribute to per…
More than companions
Background: Pets are unequivocally considered part of the family and are often regarded as irreplaceable companions or loved ones. Despite evidence demonstrating the essential nature of pets in households, the human-animal bond is often overlooked by oncology and veterinary care teams when working with cancer survivors. This study explored pet-related experiences of cancer survivors, including the benefits, challenges, and unmet needs, as well as…
Honoring lives and legacies
The death of a dog often results in profound grief that is often disenfranchized. While memorialization practices such as obituary writing are increasingly used by bereaved owners, little is known about how these narratives vary across human-dog relationship contexts or how they function in meaning-making and continuing bonds following loss. This exploratory qualitative study examined how online obituary and memorial narratives reflect grief, con…
Animal loss and grief in zoos
Zoo professionals and volunteers frequently face significant emotional strain due to animal losses, yet structured organizational support for processing grief remains limited. This study explores the perspectives of US-based zoo professionals and volunteers on organizational responses to animal-related grief, aiming to identify areas to enhance support and foster a grief-affirming culture. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey wi…
Veterinary end-of-life mobile practitioners
A growing specialty within veterinary medicine is end-of-life (EOL) care, including EOL mobile practice. EOL care is a broad term referring to euthanasia services, as well as hospice and palliative care for terminally-ill patients. This study was designed to better understand how EOL mobile veterinarians feel about their work, including the benefits and challenges, their reasons for choosing this career, and their levels of professional fulfillme…
Dog training-related guilt
While professional organizations advocate for positive reinforcement in dog training, many owners continue to use aversive methods, potentially creating guilt when their practices deviate from recommended approaches. Similar to parental guilt in child discipline, dog owners may experience negative emotions when resorting to punishment-based training techniques. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of dog training-related guilt among …
The body has a way of dying
Despite extensive scholarship on clinical and ethical issues in medical aid in dying (MAID), little research has examined the lived experiences of individuals pursuing this end-of-life option. This phenomenological study aims to explore how terminally ill individuals experience the pursuit of MAID through their embodied perceptions and interpretations. Semi-structured interviews with seven participants were analyzed using an embodiment framework …
The impact of owner personality traits and cat lifestyle decisions on cat-related guilt
Introduction: The current study aimed to expand current knowledge on cat-related guilt beyond work cat conflict and guilt about cat parenting to determine the influence of owner’s personality traits, choices regarding their cat’s lifestyle, and cat-related guilt factors. Additionally, we sought to assess potential predictors of anxiety and depression to determine the contributions of cat-related guilt, owner personality traits, and social compens…
Zoo professionals and volunteers in the U.S
Our findings suggest that many ACHPs are struggling with burnout, anxiety, depression, and low rates of professional fulfilment and perceived organizational support. We recommend that zoos develop organizational plans that foster a culture which normalizes and validates grief/loss experiences and is proactive in responding to animal loss, related trauma, and other occupational stressors. The results of this research demonstrate the need for syste…
Queer umbrella
Students and employees from Colorado State University School of Social Work partnered to co-lead a comprehensive student and employee community-building initiative focused on enhancing 2SLGBTQ+ student and employee well-being and belonging. The Queer Umbrella, created in response to queer and trans-identifying students and employees' experiences within a heterosexist and cissexist departmental climate, obtained funding from the university to impr…
The Loss of a Service Dog Through Death
The purpose of this research was to explore how service dog partners experience the death of their service dog. Twenty-five partners who had lost a service dog self-selected from those who participated in a larger quantitative study. The quantitative study consisted of an online, anonymous survey targeting service dog handlers who had lost a dog within the last five years. Directed content analysis was used to identify prevalent themes. Results d…
Pet Death and Owners’ Memorialization Choices
An increasing number of people view their pets as family members and the death of a pet often induces a grief reaction of comparable severity to the loss of a significant human relationship. Yet, despite similar levels of grief, the death of a pet typically does not involve similar rituals that allow owners to express their grief. This study was designed to better understand how people memorialize their pets through the use of continuing bonds (C…
Cat owners’ disenfranchised guilt and its predictive value on owners’ depression and anxiety
Numerous studies have found pets to have a beneficial effect on people’s psychological well-being, yet a growing body of research suggests that the positive impact of pet ownership is more complex than once thought and does not always lead to improved owner physical and mental health. One potential drawback to pet ownership is pet-related guilt. Research pertaining to work-family conflict and parental guilt has traditionally focused on human fami…
Breast cancer survivors’ experiences of pet ownership
Research suggests that the emotional bond shared with a pet can be particularly significant for those with declining physical health, yet little is known about breast cancer survivors’ experiences with pet ownership. The purpose of this study was to explore breast cancer survivors’ pet-related experiences including the benefits, challenges, and unmet needs. Adults (ages 18 and older), diagnosed with stages 0 ( in situ )-IV breast cancer and curre…
Dog owners
Parental guilt, one common subtype of guilt often associated with work-family conflict (WFC), has been found to be associated with depression and anxiety. Because many people view their pets as family members and even children, the current study was designed to explore dog owners’ dog-related guilt and its relationship with depression and anxiety. Through an online anonymous survey, the results of our study suggest that dog owners’ guilt and dog-…
The Loss of a Service Dog Through Death or Retirement
This study was designed to better understand how service dog partners experience the loss of their service dog. An anonymous survey was distributed to service dog partners who had lost a dog within the last five years. One-way ANOVAs were used to assess loss differences (retirement vs. death) on scores for Centrality of Events Scale, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Social Constraints Measure, and Self-Compassion Scale. Linear regressio…
US Adults’ Perceptions of Dog Breed Bans, Dog Aggression and Breed-Specific Laws
Dog aggression directed towards people is a leading reason for relinquishment and a major public health hazard. In response to the threat of dog aggression and dog bites, breed-specific legislation has been introduced in numerous cities within the United States and countries throughout the world. There is limited evidence, however, to suggest that such laws are effective. This study explored, through an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey, …
Living in dual liminal states
Drawing from Van Gennep and Caffee’s conceptualization of liminality, this autoethnographic narrative portrays the author’s rites of passage into academia and through the death of her father. These fundamental developmental transitions and losses emerged concomitantly within the backdrop of a pandemic, further cloaking the world in grief and disequilibrium. Incorporating the voice of the personal as professional, the author portrays her existenti…
Understanding breast cancer survivors’ information-seeking behaviours and overall experiences
Objective Using two different analysis techniques, this study explored differences and similarities in information-seeking discourse and overall breast cancer experiences between posters to a Reddit board and breast cancer survivor focus groups.Design This study incorporates two qualitative methods for determining themes in breast cancer survivors’ information-seeking behaviours and overall cancer experiences. First, posts from a breast cancer-sp…
Transformative Teams in Health Care
This paper describes social work pedagogy and outcomes in a multi-year longitudinal interprofessional education (IPE) course incorporating B.S.W, and M.S.S.W. students. Social work students participated in an IRB-approved mixed-method study designed to evaluate individual growth and identity transformation throughout the two-semester course. Students' semi-structured reflection papers (n=113) were analyzed qualitatively to identify core themes. S…
Spirituality/religiosity’s influence on college students’ adjustment to bereavement
Pet Death and Owners’ Memorialization Choices
An increasing number of people view their pets as family members and the death of a pet often induces a grief reaction of comparable severity to the loss of a significant human relationship. Yet, despite similar levels of grief, the death of a pet typically does not involve similar rituals that allow owners to express their grief. This study was designed to better understand how people memorialize their pets through the use of continuing bonds (C…
Transformative Teams in Health Care
This paper describes social work pedagogy and outcomes in a multi-year longitudinal interprofessional education (IPE) course incorporating B.S.W, and M.S.S.W. students. Social work students participated in an IRB-approved mixed-method study designed to evaluate individual growth and identity transformation throughout the two-semester course. Students' semi-structured reflection papers (n=113) were analyzed qualitatively to identify core themes. S…
Spirituality/religiosity’s influence on college students’ adjustment to bereavement
Transformative Teams in Health Care
This paper describes social work pedagogy and outcomes in a multi-year longitudinal interprofessional education (IPE) course incorporating B.S.W, and M.S.S.W. students. Social work students participated in an IRB-approved mixed-method study designed to evaluate individual growth and identity transformation throughout the two-semester course. Students' semi-structured reflection papers (n=113) were analyzed qualitatively to identify core themes. S…
Living in dual liminal states
Drawing from Van Gennep and Caffee’s conceptualization of liminality, this autoethnographic narrative portrays the author’s rites of passage into academia and through the death of her father. These fundamental developmental transitions and losses emerged concomitantly within the backdrop of a pandemic, further cloaking the world in grief and disequilibrium. Incorporating the voice of the personal as professional, the author portrays her existenti…
Understanding breast cancer survivors’ information-seeking behaviours and overall experiences
Objective Using two different analysis techniques, this study explored differences and similarities in information-seeking discourse and overall breast cancer experiences between posters to a Reddit board and breast cancer survivor focus groups.Design This study incorporates two qualitative methods for determining themes in breast cancer survivors’ information-seeking behaviours and overall cancer experiences. First, posts from a breast cancer-sp…
US Adults’ Perceptions of Dog Breed Bans, Dog Aggression and Breed-Specific Laws
Dog aggression directed towards people is a leading reason for relinquishment and a major public health hazard. In response to the threat of dog aggression and dog bites, breed-specific legislation has been introduced in numerous cities within the United States and countries throughout the world. There is limited evidence, however, to suggest that such laws are effective. This study explored, through an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey, …
Cat owners’ disenfranchised guilt and its predictive value on owners’ depression and anxiety
Numerous studies have found pets to have a beneficial effect on people’s psychological well-being, yet a growing body of research suggests that the positive impact of pet ownership is more complex than once thought and does not always lead to improved owner physical and mental health. One potential drawback to pet ownership is pet-related guilt. Research pertaining to work-family conflict and parental guilt has traditionally focused on human fami…
Breast cancer survivors’ experiences of pet ownership
Research suggests that the emotional bond shared with a pet can be particularly significant for those with declining physical health, yet little is known about breast cancer survivors’ experiences with pet ownership. The purpose of this study was to explore breast cancer survivors’ pet-related experiences including the benefits, challenges, and unmet needs. Adults (ages 18 and older), diagnosed with stages 0 ( in situ )-IV breast cancer and curre…
Dog owners
Parental guilt, one common subtype of guilt often associated with work-family conflict (WFC), has been found to be associated with depression and anxiety. Because many people view their pets as family members and even children, the current study was designed to explore dog owners’ dog-related guilt and its relationship with depression and anxiety. Through an online anonymous survey, the results of our study suggest that dog owners’ guilt and dog-…
The Loss of a Service Dog Through Death or Retirement
This study was designed to better understand how service dog partners experience the loss of their service dog. An anonymous survey was distributed to service dog partners who had lost a dog within the last five years. One-way ANOVAs were used to assess loss differences (retirement vs. death) on scores for Centrality of Events Scale, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Social Constraints Measure, and Self-Compassion Scale. Linear regressio…
The impact of owner personality traits and cat lifestyle decisions on cat-related guilt
Introduction: The current study aimed to expand current knowledge on cat-related guilt beyond work cat conflict and guilt about cat parenting to determine the influence of owner’s personality traits, choices regarding their cat’s lifestyle, and cat-related guilt factors. Additionally, we sought to assess potential predictors of anxiety and depression to determine the contributions of cat-related guilt, owner personality traits, and social compens…
Zoo professionals and volunteers in the U.S
Our findings suggest that many ACHPs are struggling with burnout, anxiety, depression, and low rates of professional fulfilment and perceived organizational support. We recommend that zoos develop organizational plans that foster a culture which normalizes and validates grief/loss experiences and is proactive in responding to animal loss, related trauma, and other occupational stressors. The results of this research demonstrate the need for syste…
Queer umbrella
Students and employees from Colorado State University School of Social Work partnered to co-lead a comprehensive student and employee community-building initiative focused on enhancing 2SLGBTQ+ student and employee well-being and belonging. The Queer Umbrella, created in response to queer and trans-identifying students and employees' experiences within a heterosexist and cissexist departmental climate, obtained funding from the university to impr…
The Loss of a Service Dog Through Death
The purpose of this research was to explore how service dog partners experience the death of their service dog. Twenty-five partners who had lost a service dog self-selected from those who participated in a larger quantitative study. The quantitative study consisted of an online, anonymous survey targeting service dog handlers who had lost a dog within the last five years. Directed content analysis was used to identify prevalent themes. Results d…
Pet Death and Owners’ Memorialization Choices
An increasing number of people view their pets as family members and the death of a pet often induces a grief reaction of comparable severity to the loss of a significant human relationship. Yet, despite similar levels of grief, the death of a pet typically does not involve similar rituals that allow owners to express their grief. This study was designed to better understand how people memorialize their pets through the use of continuing bonds (C…
Animal loss and grief in zoos
Zoo professionals and volunteers frequently face significant emotional strain due to animal losses, yet structured organizational support for processing grief remains limited. This study explores the perspectives of US-based zoo professionals and volunteers on organizational responses to animal-related grief, aiming to identify areas to enhance support and foster a grief-affirming culture. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey wi…
Veterinary end-of-life mobile practitioners
A growing specialty within veterinary medicine is end-of-life (EOL) care, including EOL mobile practice. EOL care is a broad term referring to euthanasia services, as well as hospice and palliative care for terminally-ill patients. This study was designed to better understand how EOL mobile veterinarians feel about their work, including the benefits and challenges, their reasons for choosing this career, and their levels of professional fulfillme…
Dog training-related guilt
While professional organizations advocate for positive reinforcement in dog training, many owners continue to use aversive methods, potentially creating guilt when their practices deviate from recommended approaches. Similar to parental guilt in child discipline, dog owners may experience negative emotions when resorting to punishment-based training techniques. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of dog training-related guilt among …
The body has a way of dying
Despite extensive scholarship on clinical and ethical issues in medical aid in dying (MAID), little research has examined the lived experiences of individuals pursuing this end-of-life option. This phenomenological study aims to explore how terminally ill individuals experience the pursuit of MAID through their embodied perceptions and interpretations. Semi-structured interviews with seven participants were analyzed using an embodiment framework …
The struggle to juggle
Background : Cancer survivors face unique challenges in caring for their pets during treatment and recovery, as they attempt to balance their own personal health needs with their pets’ care and well-being. Pets may offer emotional and relational benefits during this period, yet survivors may also experience significant burdens and stress associated with caregiving. Methods : This qualitative study used reflexive thematic analysis to explore cance…
Purpose through partnership
Background : Animal-assisted services (AAS), including therapy, education, and support programs, have become increasingly valued as a resource for improved human physical and emotional health. Despite this growth, little empirical attention has been given to the volunteers who make AAS possible. Understanding what drives their participation, how they internalize their role identity, and how their relationships with their animals contribute to per…
More than companions
Background: Pets are unequivocally considered part of the family and are often regarded as irreplaceable companions or loved ones. Despite evidence demonstrating the essential nature of pets in households, the human-animal bond is often overlooked by oncology and veterinary care teams when working with cancer survivors. This study explored pet-related experiences of cancer survivors, including the benefits, challenges, and unmet needs, as well as…
Honoring lives and legacies
The death of a dog often results in profound grief that is often disenfranchized. While memorialization practices such as obituary writing are increasingly used by bereaved owners, little is known about how these narratives vary across human-dog relationship contexts or how they function in meaning-making and continuing bonds following loss. This exploratory qualitative study examined how online obituary and memorial narratives reflect grief, con…
Human-Animal Interaction Studies (15 works) · Psychology (15 works) · Medicine (8 works) · Social Psychology (8 works) · Qualitative research (7 works) · Psychiatry (6 works) · Veterinary Practice and Education Studies (6 works) · Animal welfare (5 works) · Clinical Psychology (5 works) · Grief (5 works)