Fear of dogs in a community sample

Effects of age, gender and prior experience of canine aggression

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2608608
AutoresCarolyn M Boyd (University of South Australia), Carolyn Boyd (0000-0002-5749-9223), Brian Fotheringham (Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia (SA Branch)), B J Fotheringham, Chelsea Litchfield (0000-0002-1167-1374, University of South Australia), Carla Litchfield, Ian Mcbryde (Salisbury Highway Veterinary Surgery, South Australia), Jacques C Metzer (University of South Australia), Jacques Metzer, Pamela Scanlon (Port Noarlunga Veterinary Clinic, South Australia), Ron Somers (Department of Human Services, South Australia), Anthony H Winefield (0000-0001-5027-6687, University of South Australia)
Ano2004
Volume17
Fascículo2
Páginas146-166
Data de publicação2004-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAnthrozoös (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0892-7936 • E-ISSN: 1753-0377
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2752/089279304786991800
OpenAlexW2084877977
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas5
Referências citadas15

An investigation was conducted into human fear of dogs and experiences of canine aggression in an adult community sample (n = 292). Consistent with expectations, it was found that, while fear of dogs was relatively common (present in almost half the respondents), fear of dog attacks was less so, and extreme fear of dog attacks was very rare. Women, middle-aged and older adults were more likely to fear dogs than men and younger adults, while older people were more likely than younger ones to fear dog attacks. Reported encounters with canine aggression, particularly threatening behavior, were relatively common, but having been attacked by a dog was less strongly related to fear of dogs than having been threatened by a dog. Logistic regression analyses revealed that being female, having been threatened by a dog, and being older were strong predictors of dog-related fear, while being older and obtaining higher scores on a measure of trait anxiety predicted fear of dog attacks.Keywords: canine aggressiondogfearhuman–animal relationshipphobias

Aggression · Animal welfare · Animal-assisted therapy · Anxiety · HUBzero · Pet therapy · Psychiatry · Animal and Plant Science Education · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Clinical Psychology · Demography