Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Ethel Perry

Abstract

AbstractMental illness has a negative influence on U.S. society, affecting more than 21% of adults. Worldwide, approximately 264 million people are impacted by psychiatric conditions. Despite the prevalence of psychological disorders, treatment resources are lacking. As such, the addition of adjunctive therapeutic interventions could benefit society. Researchers have demonstrated that the bond formed between humans and animals offers a vital healing tool. However, there was limited information on the use of service dogs in the psychiatric population. This qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis explored how adults with psychiatric diagnoses describe attachment to service dogs used to mitigate the symptoms of their disabilities. Bowlby’s theory of attachment was used to guide the study. Participants were recruited with a flyer and selected via purposeful sampling. Semistructured interviews with 10 participants were conducted to obtain rich data. Findings demonstrated that service dogs positively influenced the lives of individuals with psychological disorders. The bond formed through working together eased psychiatric distress and provided increased stability and confidence for handlers. Therefore, this study contributes to positive social change by offering insight into a potential adjunctive treatment modality in addressing mental illness in the adult population. The study's implications and experiences shared by the participants also add to the knowledge base of qualitative research regarding service dogs, thereby contributing to positive social change.

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