Dog owners: Disenfranchised guilt and related depression and anxiety

Abstract

Parental guilt, one common subtype of guilt often associated with work-family conflict (WFC), has been found to be associated with depression and anxiety. Because many people view their pets as family members and even children, the current study was designed to explore dog owners’ dog-related guilt and its relationship with depression and anxiety. Through an online anonymous survey, the results of our study suggest that dog owners’ guilt and dog-related WFC are at comparable levels to those reported in human family studies. They are also both significant predictors of depression and anxiety. It is important for mental health professionals to be aware of this disenfranchised guilt and help clients cope in positive ways. Guidance related to self-compassion is offered as one strategy to help pet owners struggling with this common, but often trivialized, source of guilt.