A Comparative Study of Grief Severity, Executive Functions, and Social Support Following Human Vs. Companion Animal Loss

Losing a loved one profoundly impacts social and cognitive domains, yet the loss of a companion animal (CA) is often an overlooked area of study. This research investigated whether CA loss carries the same weight as human loss by comparing grief severity, executive functions, and perceived social support. The study analyzed 307 participants from Turkey (205 human loss; 102 CA loss). Results indicated no significant differences between the two groups in terms of grief severity or perceived social support. Furthermore, analysis with executive functioning indices revealed no differences between those grieving a human versus a CA. These findings indicate that grief severity, perceived social support, and self-reported executive functioning did not differ significantly between the groups on the measures examined in this study. These findings contribute to the growing recognition of CA bereavement and highlight the importance of addressing the needs of individuals who experience CA loss.