Youths - Social, Ethical Development

This study examines the level of adolescents' attachment to companion animals and the effects of living with companion animals on self-rated health. Over 8,000 Swedish teens were surveyed about their health, activities and companion animals. Overall, those with dogs (male and female) and females with horses indicated the highest levels of attachment to their companion animals. Those without companion animals had higher levels of physical activity than those with companion animals. Those with companion animals who reported the highest levels of health, also attributed the most importance to their animal(s).

Relying on in depth interviews with adolescents who had witnessed violence against animals but not intervened when it was occurring, this study seeks to understand impediments to advocating and intervening for the animal. The authors find that these adolescents act much like bystanders to violence against humans--being troubled by what that they see but not intervening. However, they differ in that violence against animals is normalized in their peer group as "play" activity. Implications for humane education needs are discussed.

This study examined children's knowledge of wildlife by showing them a series of animal pictures and asking three questions: 1. What is this animal? 2. What does it eat? and 3. Where does it live? The authors found that, in general, school-aged children lacked knowledge of wildlife species, even those that were common and indigenous. The authors suggest this supports a need for more wildlife education in schools.

This study examined the childhood home environment of people who had committed violence against animals as children and compared them to the home environments of those who had not hurt animals. The research found a link between experiencing domestic violence in the home and harming animals.

This research examines how children react when faced with meeting an unknown animal, in this case a guinea pig. Researchers observed four distinct types of reaction, with a majority of children (64%) reacting in a "confident manner" by going directly to the guinea pig and touching him/her. About half of the children smiled upon seeing the guinea pig.

Researchers surveyed children in grades 2, 5, 8, and 11 regarding their knowledge of animals and attitudes toward animals. In general, the children knew little about animals, although there were significant differences by age, gender, and race.

This report compiles research addressing the links between different forms of domestic violence against animals and children. The study also goes into detail to provide definitions for concepts such as abuse, neglect, and cruelty.

This study examines the prevalence of youths "owning" herpetofauna (e.g. amphibians and reptiles), how the animals were obtained, and the level of care they receive. A survey of 2,530 secondary school children in Canterbury, England, revealed that most of the herpetofauna living with these children were captured from the outdoors and had higher mortality than they would in the wild.

This chapter evaluates the Pet Attitude Scale (PAS), first used in 1981 as a psychometric tool to measure attitudes toward companion animals. The authors conduct a review of past research to assess the validity of the scale, highlight the major findings from research using the scale, and suggest future avenues of research.

This study by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) investigates the attitudes of children in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Spain toward carnivores. Specifically, respondents were asked about their attitudes toward, experiences with, and the importance of having habitat for otters, wolves, and bears.