Attitudes and Intentions Regarding Animal-Assisted Interventions

Associated Variables Among Southern Spanish Psychologists

Bibliographic Data

ID12418507
AuthorsJavier López-Cepero (0000-0002-8521-7860, Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológicos, University of Seville Sevilla España, corresponding author), Lidia Catalina Navarro (0000-0002-7352-525X, Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológicos, University of Seville Sevilla España), J Estrada (0009-0007-2997-8175, Psychology and Animal Assisted Interventions Working Group, Official Psychology Association of Western Andalusia (COP-AO) Sevilla Spain)
Year2023
Volume33
Issue3
Pages271-286
Publication date2023-12-18
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociety and Animals (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1063-1119 • E-ISSN: 1568-5306
PublisherBrill (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/15685306-bja10161
OpenAlexW4389952655
LanguageEN
References cited13

This study examined acceptance of animal-assisted interventions ( AAI s) among Spanish psychologists ( N = 332; mostly women). Participants reported attachment to animals, empathy, anthropomorphism, attitudes toward AAI, AAI knowledge, and intention to use AAI . Although less than 20% had AAI training, over 85% of participants were interested in using AAI s. Considering companion animals as human social equivalents and having specific AAI training were associated with more positive expectations of AAI , while personal distress was negatively associated. The variables influencing interest in developing AAI were positive attitudes, anthropomorphism, being female, and training, explaining 59% of the variance. Results showed that AAI s have high acceptance among psychology professionals, but interest in implementation was stronger when participants had positive attitudes toward AAI , showed high levels of anthropomorphism, and were female, rather than as a result of AAI training. Representing and publicizing AAI s as evidence-based treatments is important to enhance professional growth in the field

Distress · Empathy · Personal distress · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Animal and Plant Science Education · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Clinical Psychology · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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