Continuing Bonds and Psychosocial Adjustment in Pet Loss

Abstract

This study investigated continuing bonds (CB) expressions among bereaved pet owners and the relationship between CB expressions and psychosocial adjustment. The sample included 33 participants who had lost a dog or cat within the past year. Participants who responded to a differentiated set of 12 CB expressions reported a tendency to experience CB as more comforting than distressing, and the extent to which they endorsed each of the CB expressions was comparable to that found in a spousal loss sample, thus highlighting important similarities in pet loss to that shown in human loss in regard to CB. The CB comfort ratings also provided unique information beyond extent of CB endorsement in predicting psychosocial adjustment. The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of an attachment perspective on pet loss.