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Publication
Relação dos animais de companhia na solidão e depressão em idosos
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A população portuguesa apresenta um rápido envelhecimento, que, acompanhado por
mudanças nas estruturas, nos papéis das famílias, nos padrões de trabalho, nos movimentos
migratórios e na emancipação da mulher, contribui para o aumento de sentimentos de solidão e
depressão em idosos, devido à ausência ou perda dos laços profissionais, familiares e sociais.
Estudos mostram que a presença de animais de companhia produz no ser humano alterações
físicas, fisiológicas, sociais e psicológicas. Esta investigação pretendeu avaliar se a presença
dos animais de companhia junto de idosos produz efeitos positivos na percepção da solidão e
depressão. Contudo, entendendo que o efeito da presença de animais de estimação nos seus
tutores depende da importância que estes têm para eles, avaliou-se a qualidade destas relações
através da empatia com animais.
Assim, neste estudo, de natureza empírica, quase-experimental, observou-se a
correlação das variáveis solidão, depressão e empatia com animais em 160 idosos,
maioritariamente utentes de universidades sénior da Grande Lisboa e Lezíria do Tejo. Aplicou-se um questionário com 60 itens, contendo o levantamento de dados sociodemográficos e três
escalas que avaliam os construtos em estudo: a UCLA para a solidão, a GDS para a depressão
e EEA para a empatia.
Foi encontrada uma correlação positiva entre a solidão e a depressão, indicando que
quanto maiores os níveis de solidão, maiores os níveis de depressão; e uma correlação negativa
entre a solidão e a preocupação empática com o sofrimento dos animais, revelando que quanto
maior for a preocupação empática com o sofrimento dos animais, menor será o nível de solidão
ABSTRACT: The Portuguese population is aging rapidly, which, accompanied by changes in structures, family roles, work standards, migratory movements and the emancipation of women, contributes to an increase in feelings of loneliness and geriatric depression, due to absence or loss of professional, family and social ties. Studies show that the presence of pets produces physical, physiological, social and psychological changes in humans. This research aimed to evaluate whether the presence of companion animals among the elderly produces positive effects on the perception of loneliness and depression. However, understanding that the effect of the presence of pets on their owners depends on the importance they have for them, the quality of these relationships was assessed through empathy with animals. Thus, in this study, of an empirical, quasi-experimental nature, the correlation of the variables loneliness, depression and empathy with animals was observed in 160 elderly people, mostly users of senior universities in the Lisbon region and Tejo river basin. A questionnaire with 60 items was applied, containing sociodemographic data and three scales that evaluate the constructs under study: the UCLA for loneliness, the GDS for depression and the EEA for empathy. A positive correlation was found between loneliness and depression, indicating that the higher the levels of loneliness, the higher the levels of depression; and a negative correlation between loneliness and empathic concern for the suffering of animals, revealing that the greater the empathic concern for the suffering of animals, the lower the level of loneliness.
ABSTRACT: The Portuguese population is aging rapidly, which, accompanied by changes in structures, family roles, work standards, migratory movements and the emancipation of women, contributes to an increase in feelings of loneliness and geriatric depression, due to absence or loss of professional, family and social ties. Studies show that the presence of pets produces physical, physiological, social and psychological changes in humans. This research aimed to evaluate whether the presence of companion animals among the elderly produces positive effects on the perception of loneliness and depression. However, understanding that the effect of the presence of pets on their owners depends on the importance they have for them, the quality of these relationships was assessed through empathy with animals. Thus, in this study, of an empirical, quasi-experimental nature, the correlation of the variables loneliness, depression and empathy with animals was observed in 160 elderly people, mostly users of senior universities in the Lisbon region and Tejo river basin. A questionnaire with 60 items was applied, containing sociodemographic data and three scales that evaluate the constructs under study: the UCLA for loneliness, the GDS for depression and the EEA for empathy. A positive correlation was found between loneliness and depression, indicating that the higher the levels of loneliness, the higher the levels of depression; and a negative correlation between loneliness and empathic concern for the suffering of animals, revealing that the greater the empathic concern for the suffering of animals, the lower the level of loneliness.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA –
Instituto Universitário para obtenção de
grau de Mestre em Psicologia Clínica
Keywords
Depressão Solidão Empatia com animais Idosos Depression Loneliness Empathy with animals Elderly people