Resumen

REYES PLAZAOLA, Paola et al. PETS IN FAMILY DYNAMICS: COMPARISONS OF TRIANGLES OF COUPLES WITH SONS AND WITH ANIMALS. Ajayu [online]. 2020, vol.18, n.2, pp.312-350. ISSN 2077-2161.

Some authors have stated that companion animals participate in family life in a similar way as humans do in cases of relational anxiety. However, they have not been able to establish direct comparisons. A cross-sectional descriptive study was developed to describe the triangulations couples perform with their pets, compared to those they perform with their children. A questionnaire on two isomorphic versions of couple triangulation behavior was developed: one on children (CTBc) and one on animals (CTBa). An incidental sample of 380 participants was studied. Results showed triangulation behaviors towards children and animals were similar in frequency and that CTBc and CTBa correlated directly. Couples with children and animals scored lower in CTBa than couples with animals but without children, but they showed no difference in terms of CTBc when compared to couples with children and without animals. We concluded that pets act in a similar fashion as children in couple triangulations, although this dynamic is preferably shown towards children.

Palabras clave : companion animals; family dynamics; pet; triangle.

        · resumen en Español | Portugués     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )