Comparison of perceived social support and executive functions of individuals who have lost a beloved person or companion animal

The purpose of the current study is to explore both the similarities and differences between human loss and companion animal loss, focusing on the severity of grief, executive functions (EFs), and perceived social support (PSS). The study's sample consists of 380 adult volunteers, ranging in age from 18 to 85. Participants were selected based on their experiences and subsequently divided into three distinct groups: human loss, companion animal loss, and no loss. Initially, all participants completed a Demographic Form. Those who had experienced the loss of a human or a companion animal were randomly assigned to receive the Core Bereavement Items, the Executive Functions Index (EFI), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Conversely, participants in the no loss group randomly received the EFI and MSPSS. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in grief severity and perceived social support between the loss groups. However, empathy was significantly higher in the loss group compared to the no loss group. Correlation analyses among the loss group, no loss group, EFI, and MSPSS revealed that motivation was positively correlated across all groups. Organization and strategic planning were positively correlated only within the loss group. Impulse control was higher in the human loss group as perceived social support from family increased, whereas impulse control decreased in the no loss group as perceived social support from a significant other increased. These findings have been discussed in the context of the relevant literature. Keywords: Grief/Bereavement, companion animal, executive functions, social support