“LIVING OFF THE GRID”: THE INFLUENCE OF COMPANION CANINES ON ONE’S QUALITY OF LIFE

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dc.access.optionOpen Access
dc.contributor.advisorLookabaugh, Sandra
dc.contributor.authorSeibel, Emily C
dc.contributor.departmentHuman Development and Family Science
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-04T15:20:53Z
dc.date.available2020-02-04T15:20:53Z
dc.date.created2019-05
dc.date.issued2019-08-23
dc.date.submittedMay 2019
dc.date.updated2020-01-29T14:30:09Z
dc.degree.departmentHuman Development and Family Science
dc.degree.disciplineMS-Child Development & Family
dc.degree.grantorEast Carolina University
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.degree.nameM.S.
dc.description.abstractEstimates of individuals experiencing homelessness in the United States range between 549,928-643,067 on any given day (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2018; Green Doors, n.d.). Among those individuals experiencing homelessness, approximately 25% have a companion animal (Petsofthehomeless.org, n.d.). There is not a uniform definition of homelessness and the researcher was intentional to acknowledge that the individual is a person and not their circumstances. Participants in this study were two individuals who identified as "living off the grid" in Durham, North Carolina rather than identifying as homeless. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of companion canines on the quality of life of these two individuals. Data were collected through interviews that were audio recorded. Narrative analysis guided the coding of interviews for qualitative data analysis. Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a framework to investigate how individuals experiencing homelessness may have a different hierarchy of needs than the original framework suggests. The results revealed for the two individuals, who identify as living off the grid, their hierarchy of needs is more fluid than the original hierarchy framework suggests. Their hierarchy has safety, love and belongingness, and physiological needs intricately interwoven. Findings suggest that these two individuals, who identify as living off the grid, have a stronger desire and need for unconditional love than the rest of the general population and find that love with a companion canine.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10342/7626
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherEast Carolina University
dc.subjectcompanion animals
dc.subjecthomelessness
dc.subjectliving off the grid
dc.subjectquality of life
dc.subjectunconditional love
dc.subjecthierarchy of needs
dc.subjectnarrative analysis
dc.subjectcase study
dc.subject.lcshHuman-animal relationships--North Carolina--Durham
dc.subject.lcshSelf-reliant living--North Carolina--Durham
dc.subject.lcshPet owners--North Carolina--Durham--Attitudes
dc.subject.lcshHomeless persons--North Carolina--Durham
dc.title“LIVING OFF THE GRID”: THE INFLUENCE OF COMPANION CANINES ON ONE’S QUALITY OF LIFE
dc.typeMaster's Thesis
dc.type.materialtext

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