Introduction
The loss of a pet can raise grief and sorrow comparable to the loss of a
human loved one (Laderer, 2019). Pets often hold significant roles in
people's lives, serving as companions, best friends and sources of
unconditional love and support. When a beloved pet passes away,
individuals may experience a range of intense emotions, including
sadness, loneliness, and despair. Understanding how personality
influences grief response in the context of pet loss is crucial for providing
empathetic support and interventions to grieving individuals. The
recognition of pets as valued members of the family and the
acknowledgment of pet loss as a legitimate form of grief have evolved
over time (Robinson & Segal, Ph.D., 2019). Historically, pets were often
viewed primarily as an assets or working animals rather than companions.
However, as society shifted towards pets as integral parts of households,
the emotional bonds between humans and their animal companions
became increasingly recognized and celebrated. In the early to mid-20th
century, the field of psychology began exploring the human-animal bond
and its impact on emotional well-being (Melvin, 2020). Studies conducted
during this period laid the groundwork for understanding the connections
between individuals and their pets, highlighting the benefits of pet
ownership and the grief experienced upon pet loss. Throughout the half of
the 20th century and into the 21st century, research on pet loss and
bereavement expanded, various disciplines such as psychology, sociology,
and veterinary medicine. Scholars explored the psychological, social, and
cultural dimensions of pet loss, examining factors influencing grief
intensity, and coping mechanisms. Personality emerged as a significant
factor shaping individuals' responses to pet loss, reflecting broader trends
in grief research focused on understanding how individual differences
influence grief experiences. Studies examining the relationship between
personality traits and grief response in the context of pet loss have
provided valuable insights into how factors such as extraversion,
neuroticism, and attachment style influence mourning processes. Despite
advancements in research, gaps remain in understanding the interactions
between personality and grief in pet loss. Further exploration is needed to
explain the specific ways in which personality traits influence grief
intensity, coping strategies, and long-term adjustment following the loss
of a beloved pet. In summary, recognizing the role of personality in
shaping grief response to pet loss is essential for providing compassionate
support and effective interventions to individuals mourning the loss of
their animal companions. By understanding the historical context and
ongoing research in this area, we can continue to enhance our
understanding of pet loss bereavement and promote healing and
resilience among grieving pet owners. When people feel more connected
to their pets, they tend to experience more emotional pain when their pet
passes away. Researchers in Quezon City looked into how elderly pet
owners deal with their emotions after losing a pet, focusing on how they
feel attached to their pets and how they manage their feelings. The study
aimed to offer useful information for both pet owners and those without
pets, with the hope of helping people understand how attachment to pets
and handling emotions are linked (Garcia, Jeresano, Sembillo & Sengco,
2024). Pets like dogs and cats offer companionship and comfort to people,
as shown by activities with animals and workplaces that allow pets, which
make workers happier and more productive. During the COVID-19
pandemic, pets were even more important, helping their owners feel
better and stay connected during tough times (Sung & Han, 2023).
According to national library of medicine, grief response refers to the
emotional, psychological, and behavioral reactions that occur in response
to the loss of someone or something significant. It's a natural and
individualized process that can involve a range of feelings such as
sadness, anger, guilt, and even relief. People may also experience physical
symptoms and changes in behavior as they navigate through grief. It's
important to understand that grief is a unique journey for each person and
can take time to work through. Personality traits are enduring patterns of
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that characterize an individual's unique
way of interacting with the world. These traits are relatively stable over
time and across different situations, shaping how a person responds to
various circumstances. Traits can vary widely among individuals and are
often described using dimensions such as the bog five personality traits:
openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and
neuroticism. Other frameworks also exist, offering different perspectives
on personality, but they all aim to capture the fundamental aspects of an
individual's psychological makeup. The impact of personality on grief
response in pet loss is a complex topic that draws from various disciplines,
including psychology, and sociology. While there may not be a single
viewpoint, there are several perspectives and research findings that shed
light on this issue. Psychologists have long studied the ways in which
individual differences in personality influence, coping mechanisms, and
emotional responses to loss. According to this perspective, individuals
with certain personality traits may experience pet loss differently. For
example, people who score high on neuroticism may experience more
intense grief reactions, including sadness, anxiety, and overthinking
following the loss of a pet. Those with high levels of extraversion may
seek social support more readily and may find comfort in talking about
their feelings with others. Individuals with high levels of conscientiousness
may cope with pet loss by engaging in activities that provide structure
and distraction from their grief. From a sociological standpoint, cultural
norms and societal expectations also play a role in shaping how
individuals experience and express grief over the loss of a pet. In some
cultures, for instance, openly grieving the death of a pet may be
stigmatized leading individuals to suppress their emotions or seek
alternative forms of support. Professionals in the field of animal behavior
may offer insights into how personality influences the human-animal bond
and, consequently, the grieving process. For example, individuals who
have formed particularly strong attachments to their pets may experience
more profound grief upon their loss, regardless of their personality traits.
Some researchers have taken an independent approach, integrating
perspectives from psychology, sociology, and other fields to gain a
comprehensive understanding of the relationship between personality and
grief response in pet loss. By examining factors such as attachment
styles, coping strategies, and social support networks, interdisciplinary
studies can provide valuable insights into the complexities of this
phenomenon. It's important to note that while these perspectives offer
valuable insights into the relationship between personality and grief
response in pet loss, individual experiences of grief are highly subjective
and multifaceted. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all explanation, and
further research is needed to fully understand the problem of this issue.
The researcher’s interest in working on the problem came up due to
personal experiences. The researchers experienced different emotions
such as sadness, loneliness, and profound sorrow due to pet loss. Pets
frequently hold a special position in our life as companions, friends, and
providers of unconditional love, making their loss comparable to losing a
beloved family member. The bond developed between humans and their
pets goes beyond basic companionship, developing into a meaningful
connection based on trust, loyalty, and mutual affection. The death of a
pet can elicit strong sentiments of grief and grieving, as people deal with
the loss of a valued friend and the void left by their absence. Processing
pet loss entails navigating a complicated range of emotions, memories,
and adaptations to life without them, emphasizing the distinct and intense
character of grief experienced in the aftermath of pet loss.
One of the researchers also noticed that people having different
personality traits experienced grief differently. The connection between
personality traits and grief revolves around how individual differences in
personality can influence the experience and expression of grief following
a loss. According to research, specific personality factors may influence
how people cope with and adjust to the grieving process. Individuals with
high neuroticism, which is defined by a tendency toward negative
emotions, may suffer more severe and persistent mourning reactions,
such as worry, melancholy, and rumination. Individuals with high
extraversion, defined by friendliness and positive affect, may express their
grief more openly, seeking social support and engaging in activities to
cope with their loss. Furthermore, personality traits such as openness to
experience, conscientiousness, and resilience may influence how people
deal with grief, influencing their coping techniques, emotional responses,
and long-term adjustment to loss. Understanding the relationship between
personality traits and grief can provide useful insights into individual
variances in grief experiences and inspire solutions customized to
mourning people’s specific needs. The purpose of studying how
personality affects grief response in pet loss is to gain a deeper
understanding of how individual differences in personality traits influence
the way people cope with the loss of a beloved animal companion. By
examining how traits such as extraversion, neuroticism, openness,
conscientiousness, and agreeableness impact the grieving process,
researchers aim to identify patterns and predictors of grief reactions. This
knowledge can help inform support and intervention strategies tailored to
individuals with specific personality profiles, ultimately aiding in the
development of more effective grief counseling and support services for
pet owners experiencing loss.
References
https://elemental.medium.com/losing-a-pet-is-as-painful-as-losing-a-
human-881555d7d5f7
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-losing-a-pet.htm
https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/personal-professional-
development/history-and-science-of-the-human-animal-bond/
Pet Loss: A Study on the Relationship Between Attachment Styles
and Cognitive-Emotion Regulation Strategy Among Elderly Pet
Owners in Quezon City, Garcia, Jeresano, Sembillo & Sengco, 2024
Exploring the Role of Empathy as a Dual Mediator in the Relationship
between Human–Pet Attachment and Quality of Life: A Survey Study
among Adult Dog Owners, Ji Yu Sung & Jin Soo Han 2023
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507832/#:~:text=Grief
%20reactions%20lead%20to%20complex,may%20cry%20for%20no
%20reason.
Definition of Terms
Big five model. The five broad personality traits described by the theory
are extraversion (also often spelled extroversion), agreeableness,
openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. The five basic personality
traits is a theory coined in 1949 by D. W.
Grief response. the person who experiences a loss may have a range of
feelings, including shock, numbness, sadness, denial, anger, guilt,
helplessness, depression, and yearning. A person may cry for no reason.
Mourn. to feel or show grief or sorrow especially over someone's death.
Personality traits. personality traits includes; openness,
conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Pet loss. when someone we love such as a beloved pet dies, the loss can
cause intense grief and sorrow.
