What does this research mean for the field?

Occupational engagement in dog caregiving is associated with a stronger sense of purpose in life among adults with disabilities, and this relationship is strengthened by a stronger affective bond with the animal. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine how occupational engagement in dog caregiving relates to purpose in life among adults with disabilities and determine whether their affective bond moderates this relationship.

August 19, 2026Journal of Occupational Science

Occupational engagement in dog caregiving and its association with life purpose in adults with disabilities

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Authors

NHNazaret Hernández-EspesoUniversitat de València IZInmaculada Zango-MartínUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona EREva RosaAutoliv (Sweden)

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Implication

Cross-sectional study finds dog caregiving links to greater life purpose in adults with disabilities, indicating affective human-animal bonds enhance existential well-being.

Key Points

To examine how occupational engagement in dog caregiving relates to purpose in life among adults with disabilities and determine whether their affective bond moderates this relationship.
Cross-sectional survey of 207 Spanish adults with disabilities, including a focused subgroup of 106 dog owners.
Administered the Dog Care Occupational Questionnaire (DOCOQ), the Purpose in Life Scale (PIL), and the Pet Relationship Scale (PRS).
Conducted correlation and moderation analyses to evaluate the interactions between caregiving occupations, emotional attachment, and purpose in life.
Occupational engagement in dog caregiving and the affective bond to the dog were both significantly associated with a stronger sense of purpose in life.
The affective bond significantly moderated the relationship between caregiving and life purpose, showing that stronger emotional attachment amplified the positive association between care activities and purpose.

Cite This Study

Hernández-Espeso et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a85630603308d306e2d6088 https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2026.2686664

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Implication

Cross-sectional study finds dog caregiving links to greater life purpose in adults with disabilities, indicating affective human-animal bonds enhance existential well-being.

Occupational engagement in dog caregiving and its association with life purpose in adults with disabilities

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Occupational engagement in dog caregiving and its association with life purpose in adults with disabilities

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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