STROKE SURVIVORS’ ATTACHMENT ORIENTATION TOWARD A PET: ASSOCIATION WITH ACTIVITY, PARTICIPATION, AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Naor Demeter1, Sigal Zilcha-Mano2, Naomi Josman1
1Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
2Department of Psychology, The Herta & Paul Amir Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Naordemeter@gmail.com
P.O Box 58, Halutz, 2012100, Israel, Phone: 972-549849638

Abstract
Background: There are contradicting findings regarding the influence of pets on their owners’ health. Previous studies suggest that individual differences in the attachment orientation of owners to their pets may predict the owners’ ability to gain from the relationship with the pet. This study is first to examine the effect of pet attachment in a clinical population of stroke survivors.
Study aims: (a) To examine the differences in activity, participation and Quality of life (QOL) of stroke survivors living with/ without a pet.
Method: 52 stroke survivors (16 women, 36 men), ages 47-87, 6+ months since stroke onset, living independently in the community, were divided into two matched groups: living with/without a pet. Several assessment tools were used to examine aspects of participants’ body functions, attachment orientation, activity, participation, and QOL. 
Results: No significant differences were found in the levels of daily activities [F(4,45)=1.60, p=.190] or QOL [F(4,46)=.96, p=.438] between the two groups. Stroke survivors owning a pet showed significantly better performance on a cognitive functioning task than did those not owning a pet. Analyses are now being conducted to investigate a potential effect of pet attachment.
Conclusions: Results are consistent with previous studies showing mixed effects of living with a pet on people's activity and QOL. Further analyses will investigate the ability of pet attachment to explain the contradictory findings.