The Role of Relationships between Adults and Their Canine Companions: The Impact on Personal Growth and Well-Being

Autor/in	Kramer, Lorie Renee
Titel	The Role of Relationships between Adults and Their Canine Companions: The Impact on Personal Growth and Well-Being
Quelle	(2012), (236 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit D.Ed. Dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-2675-0982-6
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Adults; Animals; Relationship; Individual Development; Well Being; Qualitative Research; Attachment Behavior; Behavior Theories; Interviews; Personal Narratives; Photography; Visual Aids; Adult Education + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Animal; Tier; Tiere; Wechselbeziehung; Individuelle Entwicklung; Well-being; Wellness; Wohlbefinden; Qualitative Forschung; Attachment; Bindungsverhalten; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Erlebniserzählung; Fotografie; Anschauungsmaterial; Adult; Adults; Education; Adult basic education; Adult training; Erwachsenenbildung
Abstract	This qualitative study used narrative analysis to explore the role of relationships between adults and their canine companions and the role of this relationship in personal growth and well-being. The theoretical frameworks to inform the study consisted of attachment theory and a blend of relational theory and connected knowing. The study focused on understanding adults' relationships with their canine companions and, specifically, how this particular relationship contributes to personal growth and well-being in adulthood. Data consisted of participant narratives shared during interviews. In addition, participants showed a favorite photograph of their canine companion(s) and shared the story behind the photograph. Through their own stories, ten participants descriptively shared how the relationships with their canine companions have fostered their personal growth and promoted their well-being. The narratives were individually and collectively analyzed. The findings revealed commonalities across the narratives. First, participants considered their canine companions to be family members and for some participants the canine companions filled a void in their lives. Several participants shared how personally rewarding it was to rescue a canine in need of a home. Second, the canine companions taught the participants about unconditional love, patience, and responsibility/accountability. Third, spending time with the canine companions, the intuitiveness within the relationship, and the differences in canines' personalities contributed to the promotion of well-being. The study concludes with implications for theory and practice. The findings have implications for the adult education field as growth and learning is not limited to connections and relationships with other humans, but also occurs through relationships with canine companions. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10