| Previous research examines the effects of children, adolescents, and special populations' involvement in animal-assisted therapy; however, there is a gap in the research when examining the psychosocial-behavioral effects of human-animal interaction for young adults between the ages of 18- to 25-year-old. This phenomenological study is geared towards filling that gap by looking at the psychosocial-behavioral effects of human-animal interaction for 18- to 25-year-old young adults through data collected from open-ended interviews. The sample consisted of ten participants with a mean age of 20.4 years who regularly (at least one hour per week) volunteer and/or visit with human-animal interaction rescue facilities. Data was analyzed using Carl Moustakas' transcendental phenomenological approach and Kellert and Wilson's biophilia. Through phenomenological reduction, fourteen psychosocial-behavioral themes were identified in the study. Eight themes were classified as psychological: Accomplishment, Coping and Anger Management Skills, Counseling, Escape, Motivation and Rejuvenation, Part of Identity, Sense of Belonging, Unconditional Love. Four themes were classified as social: Affiliate with Animals Always, Be Wary, Companionship, and Increase Socialization. Two themes were classified as behavioral: Responsibility and Spatial Awareness. In addition, three themes Affiliate with Animals Always, Be Wary, and Accomplishment were not mentioned in previous research. Likewise, participants mentioned experiencing "animal sickness" which was not highlighted in other studies either. Furthermore, the essence of the participants' psychosocial-behavioral experiences within human-animal interaction is best represented by the biophilia tendencies of humanistic, moralistic, and aesthetic as they represent the love, peace, and harmony that participants felt from human-animal interaction. These feelings and experiences, then, help them achieve order and meaning in life. More research is needed to support, add to, and/or dispute the findings of this study. Additionally, biophilia should be incorporated into more studies that research the human-animal interaction. |
