寵物非預期性死亡對飼養家庭之影響

家庭結構隨著時代的變遷已發生變化，寵物從過去工具性功能轉變成情感性功能，擔任飼主情感依附與關係連接之角色。因此寵物逝世對個體的影響象徵著關係的斷裂，引發失落現象。過往研究在喪寵議題上較聚焦於個體的影響與悲傷歷程處理，但研究已指出寵物已逐漸發展成為本土家庭結構的一員，因此在探索喪寵之失落情感時，不僅是發生在飼主個人身上，也需要留意整體家庭之影響。本研究透過訪談的方式，邀請曾經歷寵物非預期性死亡之家庭一員回溯家庭在面臨喪寵歷程時的感受與想法，希望藉由訪談分析了解飼養家庭在處理此共同喪寵經驗時的助力與阻力相關因子。本研究結果如下: 一、飼養寵物於家庭互動所帶來的影響本研究結果整理正向影響包含建立話題連結家人關係、使孩子放心父母有人陪伴減少顧慮、緩解父母對孩子的過度注意力、緩和家庭成員間的關係。負向影響則有飼養寵物使成員在環境整潔度上產生衝突、寵物勾起家庭成員的激烈情緒，波及其他成員、子女與寵物的爭風吃醋、飼養觀念落差大，成員互動間產生摩擦。二、寵物離世後飼養家庭的反應狀況寵物離世後，家庭成員會表現出失落，如哭泣、自責、不捨等，猶如喪親之反應。家庭互動亦受喪寵後的氣氛低落影響，減少了接觸。彼此的失落情緒皆停留在自身身上，較少與其他家人有流動之情緒互動，並且家庭成員也會避開寵物相關話題。寵物的離世也讓家庭成員體會到家人的重要性，更在意身邊的家人，引起正向的漣漪。三、影響家人是否能共同經歷寵物離世的相關因子助力因子主要表現於支持性與正向力量。支持性源自於家庭間的情緒正向流動，以正向眼光看待寵物死亡事件則帶來正向力量。阻力因子則是寵物非預期性死亡造成的衝擊較大與飼養家庭間的情緒界線阻礙了家庭共同處理該悲傷歷程的可能性。最後，依據本研究之結果，對實務工作處理喪寵之飼主與家庭議題，以及未來研究提出建議供參考。

關鍵字

失落；家庭；寵物；非預期性死亡

並列摘要

Over the years, the family structure has changed considerably, so is the role of pets in families. Being an emotional attachment as well as connection between family members, discussions of the importance of pets in the families have now shifted from its instrumental function to its emotional function. Therefore, the death of a pet signifies relationship ruptures and triggers grief and loss. Previous studies have focused more on the impacts of death of pets on individuals and the grieving process. However, as researches have pointed out that pets have gradually been deemed as family members in the family structure in Taiwan, it is important to look beyond affected individuals when discussing bereavement and look into the impacts it has on family as a whole. In this research, one member of each family who has experienced unanticipated death of a pet is invited to review the family's feelings and thoughts when going through the process of bereavement, in hopes of identifying support and resistance factors that arise when the family is adapting to the mutual experience of pet loss through qualitative interview analysis. The results of this study are as follows: I. The influence of pet ownership on family interactions The positive effects of pet ownership include establishing family relationship through mutual topics related to pets, assuring grown children that their parents are well accompanied by pets and therefore reducing concerns of aging parents’ loneliness, directing parents' excessive attention from their children by keeping them occupied with pet-raising, and easing tense relationships between family members. The negative effects include conflicts arise from the cleanliness of environment, family member get upsets over things related to pets and eventually vent his or her anger on other innocent family members, children’s jealousy with the pets, and arguments over different breeding concepts between family members. II. The reaction of the family after the pet's death After the pet died, family members displayed grief reactions, such as crying, self-blame, reluctance, etc, which are also considered as the reaction of bereavement. Family interactions were also affected by the depressed family atmosphere after the bereavement and family members kept distance with one another. There were less emotional interactions between family members and pet-related topics were avoided during conversations. The death of the pet also brought positive effect, such as highlighting the importance of family to family members and reminding them to care for the family members around them. III. Factors that determine whether a family is capable of coping with loss of a pet as a whole Positive factors that allow a family to cope with loss of a pet as a whole include supportive and positive behaviours, such as positive flow of emotion in the family and positive mindset towards pet’s death, which bring positive energy to the family. The negative factors are related to the overwhelming impact brought by the unintended death of the pet, the emotional boundaries between family members which hinder the possibility of the family working together along the grief journey. Lastly, based on the results of this study, suggestions are made for practical work on the issue of bereaved owners and families, as well as future research.

並列關鍵字

grief ； family ； pet ； unexpected death

參考文獻

一、中文部分

Google Scholar

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