Attachment style Is related to quality of life for assistance dog owners

<p>Attachment styles have been shown to affect quality of life. Growing interest in the valueof companion animals highlights that owning a dog can also affect quality of life, yet little researchhas explored the role of the attachment bond in affecting the relationship between dog ownershipand quality of life. Given that the impact of dog ownership on quality of life may be greater forassistance dog owners than pet dog owners, we explored how anxious attachment and avoidanceattachment styles to an assistance dog affected owner quality of life (n = 73). Regression analysisrevealed that higher anxious attachment to the dog predicted enhanced quality of life. It is suggestedthat the unique, interdependent relationship between an individual and their assistance dog maymean that an anxious attachment style is not necessarily detrimental. Feelings that indicateattachment insecurity in other relationships may reflect more positive aspects of the assistance dogowner relationship, such as the level of support that the dog provides its owner.</p>