ABSTRACT

Animals play a large role in society, yet attitudes about animals vary widely depending on individual differences in age, gender, experience with animals, and culture. The purpose of this study was to examine which factors, particularly geographic location, may influence college students’ overall attitudes toward animal use. College students (n = 297), age ranged from 18–54 years (M = 19.88, SD = 2.89), from urban and rural schools in the US completed a survey that included demographics questions, the Animal Attitudes Scale (AAS), and the Belief in Animal Mind (BAM) scale. We predicted differences between urban and rural students’ scores on the AAS and BAM scales and anticipated other factors, such as prior experience with animals, would positively influence students’ responses. We also predicted that pro-animal welfare attitudes would be associated with the BAM. Scores on the AAS (M = 3.41, SD = 0.59) and BAM (M = 5.08, SD = 1.01) scales were positively related and suggested support for animal welfare and thinking. Our findings revealed that currently living in and growing up in rural areas significantly lowered AAS scores, while growing up in rural areas lowered BAM scores. Exploration of several demographic variables showed female students and those reporting experience with pets and service animals had higher AAS scores; BAM scores were higher for females and students with only service animal experience. However, experience with animals for hunting resulted in lower AAS scores. In addition, students using newspapers/magazines to learn about animals had higher AAS scores, and those visiting natural history museums had higher BAM scores. These results suggest several underlying cultural factors that shape college students’ attitudes and beliefs about animals and the human–animal connection. Future studies should continue to investigate the influence of these and other factors on attitudes toward animal use and perceptions of animal thinking.

摘要

动物在社会中扮演着重要的角色，但对动物的态度却因年龄，性别，动物经历和文化的个体差异而大相径庭。这项研究的目的是研究哪些因素，尤其是地理位置，可能会影响大学生对动物使用的总体态度。大学生（n = 297），年龄介于18-54岁之间（M = 19.88，SD= 2.89），来自美国城市和乡村学校的调查完成了包括人口统计学问题，动物态度量表（AAS）和动物信仰信念（BAM）量表在内的调查。我们预测了城乡学生在AAS和BAM量表上的得分之间的差异，并预期了其他因素（例如以前的动物经验）将对学生的反应产生积极影响。我们还预测，亲动物福利态度将与BAM相关。AAS（M  = 3.41，SD  = 0.59）和BAM（M  = 5.08，SD  = 1.01）量表的得分呈正相关，并建议支持动物福利和思维。我们的发现表明，目前居住并正在成长在农村地区，AAS分数显着降低，而在成长过程中农村地区的BAM分数较低。对几个人口统计学变量的探索表明，女学生以及那些报告有宠物和服务性动物经验的学生具有更高的AAS评分；雌性和仅有服务性动物经验的学生的BAM分数较高。但是，狩猎动物的经验导致较低的AAS分数。此外，使用报纸/杂志学习动物的学生的AAS得分更高，而访问自然历史博物馆的学生的BAM得分更高。这些结果表明了一些潜在的文化因素，这些因素塑造了大学生对动物以及人与动物的联系的态度和信念。未来的研究应继续调查这些因素和其他因素对动物使用态度和动物思维观念的影响。