S. Houghton

The Pet Factor - Companion Animals as a Conduit for Getting to Know People, Friendship Formation and Social Support

Background While companion animals have been previously identified as a direct source of companionship and support to their owners, their role as a catalyst for friendship formation or social support networks among humans has received little attention. This study investigated the indirect role of pets as facilitators for three dimensions of social relatedness; getting to know people, friendship formation and social support networks. Methods A telephone survey of randomly selected residents in four cities, one in Australia (Perth; n = 704) and three in the U.S. (San Diego, n = 690; Portland, n = 634; Nashville, n = 664) was conducted. All participants were asked about getting to know people within their neighborhood. Pet owners were asked additional questions about the type/s of pet/s they owned, whether they had formed friendships as a result of their pet, and if they had received any of four different types of social support from the people they met through their pet. Results Pet owners were significantly more likely to get to know people in their neighborhood than non-pet owners (OR 1.61; 95%CI: 1.30, 1.99). When analyzed by site, this relationship was significant for Perth, San Diego and Nashville. Among pet owners, dog owners in the three U.S. cities (but not Perth) were significantly more likely than owners of other types of pets to regard people whom they met through their pet as a friend (OR 2.59; 95%CI: 1.94, 3.46). Around 40% of pet owners reported receiving one or more types of social support (i.e. emotional, informational, appraisal, instrumental) via people they met through their pet. Conclusion This research suggests companion animals can be a catalyst for several dimensions of human social relationships in neighborhood settings, ranging from incidental social interaction and getting to know people, through to formation of new friendships. For many pet owners, their pets also facilitated relationships from which they derived tangible forms of social support, both of a practical and emotionally supportive nature. Given growing evidence for social isolation as a risk factor for mental health, and, conversely, friendships and social support as protective factors for individual and community well-being, pets may be an important factor in developing healthy neighborhoods.

Delinquency and Reputational Orientations of Adolescent At-Risk and Not-at-Risk Males and Females.

This research investigated differences in delinquent activities and the reputational orientations of at‐risk and not‐at‐risk male and female adolescents. Initially, we sought to establish that adolescent males and females differed in these respects. This was found to be the case: males (n = 722) scored significantly higher than females (n = 738) on seven self‐reported delinquency variables and on eight reputation enhancement variables pertaining to social deviance, non‐conforming reputation, and power/evaluation private identity. When a sample of 31 at‐risk females was subsequently pair‐wise age matched with 31 not‐at‐risk females, at‐risk females scored significantly higher on all delinquency variables other than school misdemeanors. These at‐risk females also scored significantly higher on four reputation enhancement variables relating to social deviance and non‐conformity. Given that at‐risk females did not differ from their not‐at‐risk counterparts in level of involvement in school misdemeanors, we sought to determine whether this was also the case for at‐risk and not‐at‐risk males. An age‐matched sample of 91 pairs revealed that at‐risk males reported significantly higher involvement than not‐at‐risk males in all aspects of delinquency, including school misdemeanors. They also sought a more non‐conforming reputation. To explore the relationships between delinquency and reputation enhancement, a canonical correlation analysis was performed. All findings are discussed in the light of reputation enhancement theory.

Reducing Troublesome Behaviour in Three Secondary Pupils through Correspondence Training

Summary This exploratory study applied Risley & Harts correspondence training paradigm to reducing the troublesome behaviour of three 12 to 14 year‐old boys in an inner city high school in the West Midlands. Correspondence training involves negotiating individual reductions in levels of two classes of troublesome behaviour, talking out of turn (TOOT) and hindering other children (HOC). The boys were also assisted to collect data on their own behaviour in specific lessons. The schools existing system of rewards was utilised to reinforce the boys for reducing their levels of troublesome behaviour to match each target level negotiated. Results indicate that all three boys successfully reduced their levels of troublesome behaviour and that all three completed an increased amount of homework when correspondence training was introduced. Anecdotal evidence from teachers corroborated the behaviour changes apparent in the boys’ self‐report data. Correspondence training is seen as a viable and worthwhile procedur...

How People Change: Implications For Outdoor Educators

The first purpose of this article is to present key principles of ‘intentional’ change interventions that designers of outdoor education programs should consider. The second purpose is to reflect on empiricalevaluations of some outdoor based change interventions among younger aged groups e.g., adolescents at risk and incarcerated youth. Finally, some implications from change projects and recommendations for further research are presented to stimulate discussion on the potential of outdoor and adventure programs for effecting prosocial change.