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Friends with Benefits: The Positive Consequences of Pet-Friendly Practices for Workers’ Well-Being

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  • Ana Junça-Silva

    (Business Research Unit, ISCTE—Lisbon University Institute, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

Although there is evidence that pets may help individuals who are facing significant daily stressors, little is known about the benefits of pet-friendly practices for their owners’ well-being. Based on the social exchange theory and on the Rusbult investment model, we argue that organizational pet-friendly practices will be viewed as a source of support from an organization that increases workers’ organizational identification, which in turn will lead to higher levels of psychological well-being and life satisfaction. For this study, 208 working adults answered an online questionnaire. Results from the study showed that the more pet-friendly practices the higher the workers’ organizational identification, which led to higher indices of psychological well-being and life satisfaction. This study contributes to a better understanding of the human–animal interaction and how pets can function as a resource for individuals’ well-being at work.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Junça-Silva, 2022. "Friends with Benefits: The Positive Consequences of Pet-Friendly Practices for Workers’ Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-10, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1069-:d:727933
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paola Spagnoli & António Caetano & Ana Silva, 2012. "Psychometric Properties of a Portuguese Version of the Subjective Happiness Scale," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 105(1), pages 137-143, January.
    2. Anne M. Foreman & Margaret K. Glenn & B. Jean Meade & Oliver Wirth, 2017. "Dogs in the Workplace: A Review of the Benefits and Potential Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Dotson, Michael J. & Hyatt, Eva M., 2008. "Understanding dog-human companionship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 61(5), pages 457-466, May.
    4. Ana Silva & António Caetano, 2013. "Validation of the Flourishing Scale and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience in Portugal," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(2), pages 469-478, January.
    5. Ed Diener & Derrick Wirtz & William Tov & Chu Kim-Prieto & Dong-won Choi & Shigehiro Oishi & Robert Biswas-Diener, 2010. "New Well-being Measures: Short Scales to Assess Flourishing and Positive and Negative Feelings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(2), pages 143-156, June.
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