ABSTRACT Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) is the positive changes a person may experience due to the struggle with a highly stressful life event. One of the predictors of PTG is social support, and support from various sources have been shown to help foster growth. Pets have also been shown to provide feelings of social support and to reduce feelings of stress. Despite this, no studies to date have examined the association between pets and PTG. This study examined the relationship between owning and spending time with pets and PTG and stress symptoms in adolescents (M age = 17 years) who experienced at least one stressful life event. PTG was assessed using a modified PTG Inventory, and stress symptoms were assessed using the revised version of the Impact of Events Scale. Having pets did not explain PTG or stress symptoms. However, spending more time with pets positively correlated with higher growth scores in the Relating to Others PTG domain. It appears that for adolescents, spending more time with pets corresponds with higher growth in the domain of PTG that is associated with relationships, possibly due to social support garnered from interacting with pets or from pets prompting interactions that foster perceptions of support from others. Future studies should examine if species of pet, number of pets, the relationship between pet and owner, or the nature of pet interactions influences perceptions of growth, as well as assessing perceptions of support from pets and the possibility of distinct pathways to each domain of PTG.

中文翻译：

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养宠物、创伤后成长和青少年压力症状之间的关联

摘要 创伤后成长 (PTG) 是一个人在与高度压力的生活事件斗争中可能经历的积极变化。PTG 的预测因素之一是社会支持，各种来源的支持已被证明有助于促进增长。宠物也被证明可以提供社会支持的感觉并减少压力感。尽管如此，迄今为止还没有研究检查过宠物与 PTG 之间的关联。本研究调查了至少经历过一次压力性生活事件的青少年（M 年龄 = 17 岁）拥有和与宠物共度时光与 PTG 和压力症状之间的关系。使用修改后的 PTG 量表评估 PTG，使用修订版的事件影响量表评估压力症状。养宠物并不能解释 PTG 或压力症状。然而，与宠物相处的时间越长，与他人相关 PTG 领域的增长得分越高，呈正相关。似乎对于青少年来说，花更多的时间与宠物相处对应于与人际关系相关的 PTG 领域的更高增长，这可能是由于与宠物互动或宠物促进互动而获得的社会支持，从而促进了对他人支持的看法。未来的研究应该检查宠物的种类、宠物的数量、宠物与主人之间的关系或宠物互动的性质是否会影响对成长的看法，并评估对宠物支持的看法以及通往每个领域的不同途径的可能性。 PTG。与宠物呆在一起的时间越长，与人际关系相关的 PTG 领域的增长就越快，这可能是由于与宠物互动或宠物促进互动而获得的社会支持，从而促进了对他人支持的看法。未来的研究应该检查宠物的种类、宠物的数量、宠物与主人之间的关系或宠物互动的性质是否会影响对成长的看法，并评估对宠物支持的看法以及通往每个领域的不同途径的可能性。 PTG。与宠物呆在一起的时间越长，与人际关系相关的 PTG 领域的增长就越快，这可能是由于与宠物互动或宠物促进互动而获得的社会支持，从而促进了对他人支持的看法。未来的研究应该检查宠物的种类、宠物的数量、宠物与主人之间的关系或宠物互动的性质是否会影响对成长的看法，并评估对宠物支持的看法以及通往每个领域的不同途径的可能性。 PTG。