中文

Living with companion animals is common around the world, and China is no exception — though the phenomenon is less well-studied there. This study explores how Chinese animal guardians attribute emotions to their companion animals and how their level of attachment influences these attributions. This research provides insights into human-animal relationships in China, where the study of animal welfare is still developing. Researchers surveyed 503 dog and cat guardians in mainland China to investigate the correlation between guardians’ attribution of emotions to their animals and their level of attachment. The study is one of the first to examine these factors in a Chinese population.

The Pet Bonding Scale (PBS) was used to assess the degree of attachment between guardians and their dogs or cats. The researchers used a 25-question version of the PBS, with responses rated on a five-point scale ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). The total PBS score can range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating stronger attachment. Examples of PBS questions include: “My pet understands my feelings,” “I miss my pet when I am not around,” and “My pet has feelings.” The average PBS score for all respondents was 78.25 out of 100, indicating a generally high level of attachment among Chinese animal guardians.

Key findings reveal that guardians more frequently attributed primary emotions (like joy and surprise) to their companion animals than secondary emotions (like shame and jealousy). This trend aligns with previous studies in Western countries, suggesting some universality in how humans perceive animal emotions across cultures. Interestingly, compassion was frequently attributed to companion animals by Chinese guardians, which the authors suggest may be influenced by Chinese cultural traditions rooted in Confucianism and Buddhism which emphasize the equality of humans and animals.

The research uncovered several factors influencing attachment levels. Dog guardians showed higher attachment (average PBS score of 79.22) compared to cat guardians (75.48). The authors speculate this may be due to a higher level of mutual understanding between humans and dogs. Guardians with a private garden and those living with children also demonstrated higher attachment levels, possibly due to more frequent interactions and shared experiences with their companion animals.

Gender played a significant role in emotion attribution, with female guardians more likely to attribute secondary emotions like sadness, jealousy, disappointment, and compassion to their companion animals. This aligns with previous research suggesting women may have higher sensitivity to animal emotions or be more willing to express such perceptions. Age also influenced emotion attribution, with younger respondents (aged 18-49) more likely to attribute emotions like disgust and disappointment to their companion animals compared to those 60 and older.

The study found significant correlations between guardians’ attachment levels and their attribution of certain emotions to their dogs and cats, particularly for female guardians. While these correlations were not very strong, they suggest that higher attachment is associated with a greater willingness to attribute complex emotions to companion animals. Guardians who reported frequent and diverse interactions with their companion animals (e.g., communicating through barking or sniffing) scored higher on the Pet Bonding Scale.

The authors note several limitations to their study, including an unbalanced distribution of dog and cat guardians and potential sampling biases. They emphasize that this research should be considered a baseline for future studies in this area.

The findings suggest that despite cultural differences, Chinese animal guardians show similar patterns of emotional attribution and attachment to those observed in Western countries. This provides valuable insights into human-animal relationships in China, where animal welfare awareness is still developing, culturally and legislatively. As China’s animal guardianship rates continue to grow, understanding these dynamics could help advocates promote better animal care and have important implications for animal welfare policies and public education efforts.