Felicidad subjetiva después de vivir un evento traumático en personas con y sin animales de compañía

Resumen La interaccion con los animales de compania ha resultado efectiva en la reduccion de sintomas estres postraumatico, e depresion y ansiedad, consecuentes a la vivencia de un evento traumatico; aunque las investigaciones sobre aspectos positivos diferenciales entre personas con y sin animales de compania han mostrado resultados heterogeneos. Es asi que el objetivo del estudio fue comparar los niveles de felicidad subjetiva entre personas con y sin animales de compania, quienes habian enfrentado un suceso traumatico en algun momento de los ultimos tres anos. Participaron 98 personas residentes en Mexico, 49 tenian perro o gato cuando sucedio el evento y 49 no tenian. Su edad promedio fue 31.4 anos ( D.E . = 9.3), 65.3 % mujeres y 34.7 % hombres. El principal resultado indica que quienes tenian animales de compania al momento del evento se consideran actualmente mas felices que quienes no tenian. Asimismo, se encontro una correlacion positiva y significativa entre felicidad y la percepcion de la gente sobre la relacion con el animal de compania. Se concluye que los animales de compania pueden ayudar a la gente a lograr un crecimiento personal posterior a un evento traumatico o estresante. Abstract The interaction with companion animals has been effective in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from the experience of a traumatic event; although research about differences in positive aspects between pet owners and non-pet owners have shown heterogeneous results. Thus, the objective of the study was to compare subjective happiness perceived between pet owners and non-owners, who had lived a traumatic event at some point in the last three years. Ninety-eight people residing in Mexico, recruited through a non-probabilistic sampling, participated. Half of them had dogs or cats when the event happened and 49 did not have it. Age mean was 31.4 years ( SD  = 9.3), 65.3 % women and 34.7 % men. The main result indicates that those who had companion animals at the time of the event are currently considered themselves happier than those who did not. Likewise, a positive and significant correlation was found between happiness and people's perception of the relationship with the companion animal. It is concluded that companion animals could help people achieve personal growth after a traumatic or stressful event.