Examining the relationship between pet owners and non-pet owners persons attachment style and percerved stress levels

Introduction: Animal-assisted therapies, people with any chronic disease or psychological problems; It is an alternative method used in addition to the main treatment in order to raise the life standard and even improve the person. Besides common developmental disorders, various cancers, diseases such as Alzheimer's, dementia; It is seen that animal assisted therapies used in mental distress such as anxiety and depression triggered by the feeling of loneliness are extremely successful. Animal assisted therapies are one of the most researched topics, especially in developed countries. In our country, this issue has started to attract the attention of the academic community in recent years; The compilation studies made gradually began to leave the place to experimental studies. Aim: This study has the quality of being an experimental study in the field of animal assisted therapy. Purpose of the research; The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the attachment styles and perceived stress levels of individuals who own pets and individuals who do not have pets. In addition, the perceived stress levels and attachment styles of individuals who own pets and individuals who do not have pets will be compared in terms of socio-demographic characteristics consisting of their gender, the person (s) they live with, their education levels and their income levels. Method: The relational screening model will be used in this study to examine the relationship between the attachment styles and perceived stress levels of individuals who have pets and individuals who do not have pets. In addition, the two sample groups will be examined in terms of some demographic characteristics. In this model, it is aimed to measure the relationships between two or more variables. Only pet owners will be given a pet attachment scale, and individuals' levels of attachment to pets will be examined in terms of determined variables. The sample of this study, which will examine the relationship between the attachment styles and perceived stress levels of individuals who have pets and individuals who do not have a pet, will constitute 900 people who use social media platforms. It is considered that the study will be concluded with the findings obtained from the scales to be applied to individuals between the ages of 18-65. Face-to-face surveys will not be distributed due to the pandemic situation, and it is aimed to collect data via the "Google Docs" service over the internet. Results: As a result of the research, it was found that individuals who own pets have lower perceived stress scores and higher fearful attachment scores. It was observed that the secure attachment, dismissive attachment and preoccupied attachment scores did not differ according to whether or not they have a pet. On the other hand, the general attachment levels of pet owners to their pets are positively correlated with fearful attachment and preoccupied attachment, and negatively by secure attachment; It was observed that there was a positive relationship between animal rights and preoccupied attachment and fearful attachment, a positive relationship between human substitution and fearful attachment, and a negative relationship between perceived stress. Conclusion: The perceived stress levels of individuals with pets differ from those without attachment styles. According to the results of the research, it is statistically revealed that the perceived stress level is lower than the individuals who own a pet. In addition, it was observed that there was a relationship between the attachment levels of the pet owners and their attachment styles. For this reason, it is very important to be studied and examined in terms of animal assisted therapies. Keywords: Pets, Animal Assisted Therapy, Human-Animal Interaction, Perceived Stress Attachment Style