Date of Completion

2022

Document Type

Research Project

Degree Name

Grade 12

Keywords

COVID-19, holistic well-being, pandemic, pets, pet ownership, positive implications, negative implications

Abstract

In times of isolation, having a companion is one of the ways to reduce loneliness. The objective of this research is to determine whether or not having pets have positive or negative implications in the holistic well-being of pet owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors such as different age groups, employment status, number of pets, and kinds of pets are all considered by the researchers in this study. For the data gathering procedure, the researchers utilized a self-made questionnaire containing 31-item questions, that were divided into six (6) parts: the demographics, physical well-being, mental well-being, social well-being, emotional well-being, and level of attachment of owners to their pets. The results after analyzing the data and themes showed that the experiences of the respondents are different from each other. The physical well-being aspect of the respondents garnered an interpretation as physically involved; the mental wellbeing aspect indicates that pet owners are strongly mentally involved; the social well-being aspect tells that the majority are socially involved; the emotional wellbeing aspect gathered an interpretation of strongly emotionally involved; and the level of attachment toward pets resulted with the interpretation of “highly attached.” Overall, the findings of the study revealed that pet ownership has favorable effects on various aspects of a pet owner's holistic well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future researchers could revise the study, such as comparing the holistic well-being of dog owners vs. cat owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since most of the demographic profiles of pet owners are those who have dogs and cats, it will show the future researchers the differences of behavior and state of well-being among pet owners. Another recommendation also includes an assessment of the holistic development of children who own pets.

First Advisor

Maria Ligaya D. Lopez

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