Rew, L. (2000): Friends and pets as companions: strategies for coping with loneliness among homeless youth. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, Vol. 13(3):125-32.
The study which was conducted from a sample number of about 30 homeless youths tried to establish the effects homelessness to adolescents who lived in the streets. The author main hypothesis was that most homeless youths find loneliness a problem which can lead to health problems. He majorly researches on the feelings of the homeless and the situations that make them feel isolated. In a good part of the study the question of how to overcome the feeling of being isolated is dealt with. In defining adolescent, Rew (2000) defines them as youths aged between 15 to 23 years which this study focuses on. A homeless person is that individual who has no place they define as their home. They may stay at any place they find conducive to live where they don’t have ownership rights. Loneliness on the other hand meant social isolation than physical isolation. While conventional studies define pets as animals for kept for pleasure than utility (Merriam – Webster Dictionary), Rew defines pet in this context as an animal kept for companionship with a value similar to human friend companionship.
Homelessness was the defining factor for a youth to be considered in this study. The study was limited to youths between the ages of 15 to 23 years who lived on the streets. It is clear from the finding that not all homeless youths had pets. A number of them fought loneliness through friends’ companionship. It is also evident that not all of the youths who lived on the streets were lonely though this was a small group. Sickness or rather health problems were a possible outcome of loneliness but it was not conclusive to say that loneliness was the only cause to sickness. The situation of youths who felt isolated leaving their parents and going to the streets shows that homelessness was dependant to loneliness as being in streets caused further loneliness. The causative factors like sexual abuse to the homeless condition may influence the loneliness which may affect this study. Presence of good healthcare facilities could mitigate loneliness caused by disease which is also not considered in this study.
The study used a sample of 32 youths from large group in a community project in Texas. Majorly the youths were whites who had stayed in the streets for more than year to a maximum of seven years. The method was of data collection was structured interview which narrowed to 10 respondents for specific responses. The bigger sample was interviewed on general questions that did not give personal data. The interview used schedules that were divided into five parts in an ascending order of complexity. Response answers were analyzed to come up with the findings of this study.
The study found that loneliness was common among the homeless youths. The depth of the condition was affected by the location of the homeless adolescent or rather where they lived. Friends and pets were noted to be instrumental to lessening the effects of loneliness (Flynn, 2000). Being away from the friends and maybe the death of the pet caused more loneliness than what the two helped reduce. Hopelessness was found out to be a feeling common to several homeless youth while having a pet gave a number of them a feeling of responsibility. The author relation of homelessness and health problems did not come out clearly. On the contrary, being sick or the death of a pet caused loneliness. Loneliness is not a major causative agent to health problems but the outcome.
Among disciplines of psychology, Positive psychology would find this study of importance. In promotion of healthy living and helping communities thrive, positive psychology cannot isolate the lonely and the homeless who have lost hope and happiness (Linley et al, 2006). The responsibility that the youth find in taking care of pets would be recognized in positive psychology approach to work and the associated contentment value. Finding ways to help the youth find happiness in their situation would be part of the goals that positive psychology has as Seligman (2005) points.
The effect of a pet to a homeless youth seems amazing. It comes out clearly that a pet is of great value to the street children and youth. Sick respondent noted the healing effect of having a pet as Carmack, (1991) also notes. Being lonely is the lack of familiar people around the youth which can be related physical isolation. The same is not true to youths with homes. Being lonely to them is lack of caring people around them or rather emotional and psychological disconnection from the family. This study is much helpful especially to those who live in towns who may not understand the plight of street children.
On a general view the study did enough to provoke researchers into this field and to make community organizations see some of the needs of the homeless. Respondent answers of having a girlfriend as a way to cope with loneliness make the study appear gender biased. There are no similar answers of girls in the study pointing out to sexual abuse that Rew (2002) highlights later.
Having a pet is revealed as a major solution to lonely youths. Even though the study captures the responsibility that comes with having a pet, it ignores the pet diseases that can be transmitted to the youths. This should be considered in future studies based on the much contact a pet has with the homeless youth. A respondent claims to be lonely for a good part of their days. Knowing the active nature of an adolescent youth, future studies should also consider the sexual behavior among the homeless youths.
References
Carmack, B.J. (1991): The role of companion animals for persons with AIDS/HIV. Holistic Nurse Practice, Vol. 5(2):24-31.
Flynn, C. (2000). Battered women and their animal companions: Symbolic interaction between human and nonhuman animals. Society & Animals, Vol. 8(2) 99-127.
Linley, A., Joseph, S, and Harrington, S. (2006). Positive psychology: Past, present, and possible future. The Journal of Positive Psychology (1): 3–16.
Rew, L. (2000): Friends and pets as companions: strategies for coping with loneliness among homeless youth. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, Vol. 13(3):125-32.
Rew, L. (2002): Relationships of sexual abuse, connectedness, and loneliness to perceived well-being in homeless youth. Journal for Specialist in Pediatric Nursing, Vol. 7(2):51-63.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2005). Positive Psychology Network 2004 progress report, Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://www.positivepsychology.org/progressreport2004.pdf
