HEALTH CORRELATES OF COMPATIBILITY AND ATTACHMENT IN HUMAN-COMPANION ANIMAL RELATIONSHIPS

The relationship between animal ownership and owners' health has recei ved increasing attention in the recent human-companion animal literatu re. This article considers a new aspect of the human-companion animal relationship, that of compatibility between pet and owner. Compatibili ty is viewed as the fit between the animal and the owner on physical, behavioral, and psychological dimensions. A postal survey was used to test the hypothesis that compatibility has influences on physical and mental health that are independent of those due to owners' level of pe t attachment and human social support. A sample group of 176 pet owner s completed a questionnaire containing a new measure of compatibility as well as standard measures of pet attachment, human social supper?, and mental and physical health. Results of multiple regression analyse s indicated that people who are relatively more compatible with their pets report better mental health overall and fewer physical symptoms. Social support was positively associated with mental health. Pet attac hment was also positively associated with mental health, but negativel y with physical health.