HUMAN GRIEF RESULTING FROM THE DEATH OF A PET

This study investigated antecedents of the human grief response which was associated with the death of a pet cat or dog. The sample included 207 voluntary subjects who experienced this type of loss within a one -year time period prior to participating in the study. Data for the pr edictor variables were obtained from two validated instruments and a q uestionnaire developed by the author. Data for grief outcome were obta ined from another validated instrument on three clinical and three val idity scales. The results indicated that level of attachment to the de ceased pet, perceived understanding from others and other stressful ev ents combined to have significant predictive ability in grief outcome. Other analyses indicated qualitative differences in grief outcome acc ording to gender of owner and the presence of children and/or more tha n one other adult in the household. No significant difference was foun d between single and multiple pet ownership in grief outcome.