| The International Association for the Study of Pain (1994) defined pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage" (p. 210). Pain is experienced worldwide and consists of hundreds of different disorders or syndromes that impact many realms of daily life. Treatment includes many options spanning several fields. Since early history animals have facilitated in treatment of ailments. Animals have been shown to reduce anxiety, increase social mediation, and provide attachments and human bonds. Animals have also been shown to have a positive effect on other emotions, such as loneliness, anger, self-esteem, and motivation (Miller & Connor, 2000; Wells, D., 2009; Wells, D. L., 2007).;Based on previous research, this study hypothesized that of chronic pain sufferers, those with companion animals would report a better quality of life than would those without. Participants were 41 adults, 31 with companion animals and 10 without. Quality of life was measured using the WHOQOL-Pain survey, which was self-administered online. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to test the data. Within the five domains of the WHOQOL-Pain, significant results were found in the Physical Domain and Independence Domain. Although the other domains, Psychological, Social, and Spiritual, did not produce significant findings, the results did support previous literature. In all domains, those with companion animals reported a better quality of life. Failure to produce significant results may have been impacted by the uneven distribution of participants between the two groups, with companion animals and without companion animals. Further research exploring the benefits and therapeutic value of companion animals related to treatment may allow for the acceptance for more holistic treatment options in the future of health care. |
