Post-Secondary Students’ Resilience and Canine Companion Attachment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract This study investigated the role of canine companions in university students’ resilience during the latter stages of the pandemic. All participants ( N = 101) completed the Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale, a measure of resilience specific to the COVID -19 pandemic, and participants with canine companions ( N = 37) completed the Pet Attachment Questionnaire ( PAQ ). There were no significant differences in general resiliency or resiliency related to COVID -19 between those scoring higher or lower in attachment (avoidance and anxiety dimensions). However, approaching significance, t -tests showed that participants with canine companions scored slightly higher than participants without canine companions on COVID -19 specific resiliency. Our findings add to the growing body of research highlighting the complexity of human-animal relationships.