ABSTRACT To prevent potential problems in the relationship between people and their dogs, it is important to engage in a thoughtful decision-making process with regard to acquiring a dog. To map the most important elements in the decision-making process, a social cognitive model was applied using seven psychological constructs: perceived advantages of having a dog; perceived disadvantages; the social norm; self-efficacy; optimism; expected commitment; and the intention to acquire a dog. People who were planning to acquire a dog within one year were asked to fill in an online questionnaire and another one 14 months later. The social cognitive constructs were operationalized in the baseline questionnaire, and in the follow-up participants were asked to report whether they had actually acquired a dog during the 14-month interval. The sample (n = 588) largely consisted of females (88%) and those who had a high level of education (64%). The mean age of the participants was 40.9 years. The data showed significant relations among the decision-making variables, and significant differences between demographic variables related to these. In univariate longitudinal analyses, several social cognitive variables significantly predicted acquiring a dog in the 14-month period. When intention to acquire a dog was entered into the multivariate model, it remained the only predictor (OR = 2.16, p < 0.001); the model explained 33% of the variance in acquiring a dog. It was possible to assess the main constructs that play a role in decision making regarding acquiring a dog: Most baseline measures were related to actual later behavior, also when taking into account all changes in other internal and external factors that may have taken place. Insight into the decision-making process makes it possible to intervene in it for the good of people, dogs, and their relationships.

中文翻译：

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养犬过程中决策的纵向研究

摘要 为了防止人与狗之间的关系出现潜在问题，重要的是要在购买狗时进行深思熟虑的决策过程。为了绘制决策过程中最重要的元素，使用了七个心理结构应用了一个社会认知模型：养狗的感知优势；察觉到的缺点；社会规范；自我效能感；乐观; 预期承诺；以及想养一只狗。计划在一年内获得一只狗的人被要求填写一份在线问卷，并在 14 个月后填写另一份。社会认知结构在基线问卷中得到了操作，并且在后续参与者中被要求报告他们是否在 14 个月的时间间隔内实际上获得了一只狗。样本 (n = 588) 主要由女性 (88%) 和受过高等教育的人 (64%) 组成。参与者的平均年龄为 40.9 岁。数据显示决策变量之间存在显着关系，与这些相关的人口统计变量之间存在显着差异。在单变量纵向分析中，几个社会认知变量显着预测在 14 个月内获得一只狗。当将获得一只狗的意图输入多变量模型时，它仍然是唯一的预测因子（OR = 2.16，p < 0.001）；该模型解释了获得狗的 33% 的差异。可以评估在有关获得狗的决策中发挥作用的主要结构：大多数基线测量与实际的后期行为有关，还要考虑到可能发生的其他内部和外部因素的所有变化。对决策过程的洞察使得为了人、狗及其关系的利益而对其进行干预成为可能。