Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Children and Health
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1431939

Peer Bonds and Nature's Embrace: Exploring the Influence of Pet Caregiving on Social Well-Being and Nature Connection Among Taiwanese Children

Provisionally accepted
Tzuhui A. Tseng Tzuhui A. Tseng 1Hsiao-Yen Fang Hsiao-Yen Fang 2Ching-Cheng Shen Ching-Cheng Shen 3Yun-Chen Chang Yun-Chen Chang 4*
  • 1 National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, Taiwan
  • 2 Yuan Sheng Elementary School, Taoyuan, Taiwan
  • 3 National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • 4 China Medical University (Taiwan), Taichung, Taiwan

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This study investigated the associations between pet-ownership on nature engagement, interpersonal relationships, and well-being among 471 Taiwanese children aged 11-12, across different genders. The findings revealed that interactions with pets, primarily in the form of caregiving, enhanced empathy towards nature, notably among female participants from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, although direct contact with nature was generally limited. In terms of interpersonal relationships, family bonds were significant, with boys reporting stronger connections. Children who had previously or were currently owning pets displayed increased empathy towards the natural environment. The study highlighted a significant predictive relationship between children's connection to nature and their development of interpersonal relationships, with peer relationships being particularly influential in predicting children's well-being. These results underscored the importance of pet caregiving and peer interactions in the emotional and social development of children.

    Keywords: Children, Pets, natural bond, interpersonal relationships, sense of well-being

    Received: 13 May 2024; Accepted: 03 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Tseng, Fang, Shen and Chang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Yun-Chen Chang, China Medical University (Taiwan), Taichung, Taiwan

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.