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The unbreakable bond: the mental health benefits and challenges of pet ownership for people experiencing homelessness
Citation
Cleary, M and West, S and Visentin, D and Phipps, M and Westman, M and Vesk, K and Kornhaber, R, The unbreakable bond: the mental health benefits and challenges of pet ownership for people experiencing homelessness, Issues in Mental Health Nursing pp. 1-7. ISSN 0161-2840 (2020) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
DOI: doi:10.1080/01612840.2020.1843096
Abstract
Pet ownership provides a unique relationship that is beneficial to many aspects of the pet owner’s
life, including mental health and companionship. Mental health and social isolation are negatively
impacted by homelessness, increasing the importance of the owner-pet bond during this time.
However, this relationship is complicated by the need for pet owners to urgently find
accommodation for themselves while still caring for their pets. This paper explores two firsthand
narratives of the relationship between a person and their pets during a period of homelessness
and subsequent search for accommodation. Both narratives highlight important aspects of
the emotional bond between owner and pet: the concept of choosing pet over place; improved
mental health and changed behaviours; and stressors or negative emotions of parental concern,
separation anxiety and grief. These narratives emphasise the importance of supporting, expanding
and creating new pet-friendly crisis and permanent accommodation options for pet owners
experiencing homelessness.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | mental health, pet ownership, homelessness |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Nursing |
Research Field: | Mental health nursing |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Mental health |
UTAS Author: | Cleary, M (Professor Michelle Cleary) |
UTAS Author: | West, S (Dr Sancia West) |
UTAS Author: | Visentin, D (Dr Denis Visentin) |
UTAS Author: | Phipps, M (Mrs Monique Phipps) |
UTAS Author: | Kornhaber, R (Dr Rachel Kornhaber) |
ID Code: | 141752 |
Year Published: | 2020 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 2 |
Deposited By: | Nursing |
Deposited On: | 2020-11-17 |
Last Modified: | 2021-03-18 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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