Table 3 Perceived emotional, social, affectionate, and tangible support from pets
From: Breast cancer treatment and recovery: pets’ roles as emotional buffers and stressors
None of the time | A little of the time | Some of the time | Most of the time | All of the time | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Affectionate support | ||||||||||
Make you feel loved | 0 | 0.0% | 7 | 3.3% | 30 | 14.3% | 50 | 23.8% | 123 | 58.6% |
Make you feel needed | 1 | 0.5% | 11 | 5.3% | 32 | 15.3% | 51 | 24.4% | 114 | 54.5% |
Offer you the opportunity to cuddle | 1 | 0.5% | 12 | 5.7% | 25 | 11.9% | 58 | 27.6% | 114 | 54.3% |
Emotional support | ||||||||||
Ability to share quiet time together | 1 | 0.5% | 8 | 3.8% | 23 | 11.0% | 66 | 31.6% | 111 | 53.1% |
Ability to listen to your most private worries and fears | 4 | 1.9% | 9 | 4.3% | 41 | 19.5% | 51 | 24.3% | 105 | 50.0% |
Provide a positive presence in the home | 3 | 1.4% | 7 | 3.3% | 32 | 15.2% | 64 | 30.5% | 104 | 49.5% |
Ability to provide nonjudgmental support | 1 | 0.5% | 17 | 8.1% | 45 | 21.4% | 61 | 29.0% | 86 | 41.0% |
Help you get your mind off things | 1 | 0.5% | 12 | 5.7% | 38 | 18.2% | 75 | 35.9% | 83 | 39.7% |
Ability to help you feel understood | 4 | 1.9% | 22 | 10.5% | 51 | 24.3% | 63 | 30.0% | 70 | 33.3% |
Ability to listen when you need to talk | 2 | 1.0% | 22 | 10.5% | 38 | 18.1% | 80 | 38.1% | 68 | 32.4% |
Positive social interaction | ||||||||||
A ‘partner’ to relax with | 2 | 1.0% | 10 | 4.8% | 36 | 17.1% | 69 | 32.9% | 93 | 44.3% |
A ‘partner’ to enjoy daily activities together with | 0 | 0.0% | 10 | 4.8% | 38 | 18.1% | 74 | 35.2% | 88 | 41.9% |
A ‘partner’ to play with | 5 | 2.4% | 17 | 8.1% | 32 | 15.2% | 69 | 32.9% | 87 | 41.4% |
Tangible support | ||||||||||
Foster your efforts to be active and move around | 8 | 3.8% | 9 | 4.3% | 45 | 21.4% | 58 | 27.6% | 90 | 42.9% |
Offer you the opportunity to care for another being | 5 | 2.4% | 23 | 11.0% | 36 | 17.1% | 60 | 28.6% | 86 | 41.0% |
Foster your desire to be physically healthy | 7 | 3.3% | 12 | 5.7% | 45 | 21.5% | 60 | 28.7% | 85 | 40.7% |
Foster your ability to maintain a regular schedule | 3 | 1.4% | 17 | 8.1% | 37 | 17.6% | 82 | 39.0% | 71 | 33.8% |
Foster your efforts to go outdoors | 9 | 4.3% | 17 | 8.1% | 43 | 20.5% | 76 | 36.2% | 65 | 31.0% |
Foster your social connections with other people | 15 | 7.2% | 31 | 14.8% | 60 | 28.7% | 69 | 33.0% | 34 | 16.3% |
Help you eat regularly | 32 | 15.2% | 37 | 17.6% | 52 | 24.8% | 55 | 26.2% | 34 | 16.2% |