How do you relate to others?
The manner we relate to our romantic partners, family members, friends, work colleagues and even pets can be influenced by our childhood experiences with our parents and caregivers.
By understanding our tendencies to view ourselves we can discover our relationship patterns with others.
Click to participate in our current study.
The following pages of information detail the nature and purpose of the research. Please read before participating in the project.
My name is Jerodine Chan and I am conducting a research project with Dr. Narelle Warren, a research fellow in the School of Psychology and Psychiatry, towards a Graduate Diploma of Psychology at Monash University. This means that I will be writing a minor thesis, which is the equivalent of several magazine articles, and the findings may be reported for peer reviewed purposes.
In order to participate in this project, you must be 18 years or above, a pet owner and currently in a romantic relationship. This requirement is necessary because it is against research ethics to involve a minor in a research without a parent/guardians consent and this project sets to explore the relationship between pet and romantic relationships.
The research aims to gather more evidence for the extension of attachment theory on personality development. I am conducting this research to explore whether humans develop attachment to their pets in a similar time frame to that of romantic relationship. Specifically, I am interested to find out if the duration of the pet relationship moderates pet owners perception of attachment.
What are the benefits and risks of the research?
Although this research won't have direct benefits for you, positive findings from this project would help answer if we could predict the quality of pet and romantic relationships by obtaining information regarding individuals perceived security with their childhood caregivers. It would also give us information about whether future (adult) relationship quality can be enhanced by early intervention using pets (dogs and cats) as moderating factor.
There are no risks involved with participation in this research; however, some questions may cause you some discomfort, as we ask about your relationship with your partner. Although it is best for our research if you answer every question, you can choose not to answer questions that might be uncomfortable for you. If you experience distress as a result of participation in this study, the numbers of counselling services are provided at the bottom of this page (Australia and Hong Kong only).
For Australian participants: Lifeline 131114
For Hong Kong participants: The Samaritans 24Hr Multi-Lingual Hotline 28960000
What does the research involve?
The study involves answering items on an online survey or survey booklet. It should take you approximately 15-20 minutes to complete this survey. All participants will be given a participation ID. No identifying personal information will be collected at any time of this research.
Can I withdraw from the research?
Participation in this study is voluntary and you are under no obligation to consent to participation. Participants are free to choose not to answer some of the items and terminate participation at any time of their choosing. However, once the surveys are being submitted or received (clicking the submit results button or return survey booklet by post), it will no longer be possible to withdraw from participation, as surveys are not identifiable by the researchers.
Will I receive payment for participating?
All participants who complete the survey will be invited to enter into a one-off lucky draw of an iPod shuffle as a token of gratitude.
To be eligible for the lucky draw, all participants must register on this site (Luckydraw Registration) with at least one form of contact details (eg. email or mobile number).
The winner will be announced online on September 15, 2010 on this site.
The winner is encouraged to contact the researcher to arrange collection of the prize.
Data storage and Reporting
Storage of the data collected will adhere to Monash University regulations and kept on University premises in a locked filing cabinet for a period of 5 years. A report of the study may be submitted for publication, but individual participants will not be identifiable in such a report.
How can I find out the results of this study?
We will have a copy of the study results available for one year from November 2010. To access the findings, please visit this website.
If you have a complaint concerning the manner in which this research CF10/1453 - 2010000779 is being conducted, please contact:
If you would like to contact the researchers about any aspect of this study, please contact the Chief Investigator:
Executive Officer
Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC)
Building 3e Room 111
Research Office
Monash University VIC 3800
Tel: +61 3 9905 2052
Fax: +61 3 9905 3831
Email: muhrec_adm.monash.edu.au
Dr. Narelle Warren
School of Psychology & Psychiatry
Monash University
PO Box 197
Caulfield East
Victoria 3145
Australia
Tel: +61 3 990 34046
Fax: +61 3 990 34508
E-mail: Narelle.Warren_monash.edu
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the participants for completing the surveys. Without your participation our research would not have been possible.
The LuckyDraw took place on 1700 (local time), 21st September, 2010 in Hong Kong and the winner is.....
meganxxxxx_iprimus.com.au
Click here to read research findings...
Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1991). Attachments and other affectional bonds across the life cycle. In C. M. Parkes, J. Stevenson-Hinde, & P. Marris (Eds). Attachment across the life cycle, pp. 33-51. New York: Routledge.
Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the Strange Situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Bartholomew, K. (1990). Avoidance of intimacy: An attachment perspective. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7, 147-178.
Bartholomew, K., & Horowitz, L, M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 226-244.
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss, Volume 1, Attachment. London: The Hogarth Press and Institute of Psychoanalysis.
Bowlby, J. (1979). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. London: Tavistock.
Bowlby, J. (1982). Attachment and Loss: Vol. 1 (2nd Edition). New York: Basic.
