Psicologia Anormal e Comportamental

Comparing the Personality Traits and Psychological Welfare of Pet Owners and Ordinary People

Abstract

Zahedi Ghazaleh1*, Tajerian Mostafa2, Rozbehhussain3 and Khoshnazar Atefeh4

Taking care of pets is a phenomenon which has increased during the last decade in Iran, which can be due to the personality traits and psychological characteristics of people, and it can affect the psychological welfare of those people. Accordingly, the current study tries to compare the personality traits and psychological welfare of pet owners and ordinary people. The study uses a causative comparative method and the statistical population of the study includes all the pet owners visiting veterinary clinics of Kerman city and ordinary people living in Kerman city within the age range of 18 to 45 years from August, 2021 to February, 2022. 420 participants (210 participants for each group) were selected using convenient sampling method as the sample of the study. In order to gather the required data, two questionnaires including psychological welfare questionnaire (RSPWB) and Neo’s five-factor questionnaire were used. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software application and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent t-test). The results of the study show that the level of neuroticism and openness was higher among pet owners compared to ordinary people; however, the levels of extroversion, compatibility, and responsibility were higher among ordinary individuals compared to pet owners. Moreover, the psychological welfare and its components, including self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, control over the environment, and purposeful life were higher among ordinary people than the pet owners.