The Psychiatric Impacts of Human-Animal Bond with Assistance Animals

Presenter

Alyssa Renee Bernardo

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Ashley Woodman, Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A82, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 5 (A81-A100) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to study the impacts that assistance animals have on people living with a psychiatric disability. Both positive and negative impacts will be examined to gain a full perspective on the impact of Emotional Support Animals (ESA) and Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD) on the mental health of their owner. This research was inspired by the rising demand for ESAs and PSDs and normalizing the companionship of animals for people with a psychiatric disability. This study will gather interviews, primarily from students from University of Massachusetts Amherst, to gain understanding about the different ways that service animals have alleviated or exacerbated their mental health symptoms. Interviews will be coded for a range of positive and negative impacts using qualitative thematic analysis. It is expected that PSDs and ESAs decrease feelings of stress, loneliness and helplessness, which are common symptoms of many psychiatric disabilities. However, PSDs and ESAs are also expected to bring negative stigma and access barriers (e.g., unwanted attention, denial of entrance to certain public places) which may hinder their performance and assistance. The results will provide the audience with more reason to normalize the usage of service animals to help combat psychiatric disabilities, through the stories told by people assisted by assistance animals. 

Keywords

service animals, psychiatric disability, emotional support animal

Research Area

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

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