Percepção da qualidade de vida e do bem-estar subjetivo de pessoas que adotaram animais na pandemia por COVID-19.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the lives of people who have come to experience hitherto unknown feelings such as fear and loneliness. For this reason, some people saw as an alternative to assuage such feelings, adopting a pet. This research aims to analyze the quality of life through the subjective well-being of people who adopted animals in the pandemic, where tutors talked about how the adoption experience was, bringing its positives and negatives arising from this coexistence. This is an exploratory study with a qualitative approach and the data collected were submitted to the thematic analysis proposed by Minayo. Participants were selected through adoption records belonging to a Non-Governmental Organization and also through records of adoptions carried out by independent protectors. 18 people were interviewed, over 18 years old, who adopted animals in the pandemic for at least six months. The results showed that most people who adopted animals in the pandemic were female, married, between 45-60 years old, all respondents had a steady job and most had an income equal to or greater than 4 minimum wages. Most of the interviewees adopted dogs, already had another animal and reported not having any disease. With the analysis of the speeches, three categories emerged, entitled: "The well-being resulting from the experience of adopting a pet" and the subcategories: "Experiences of adopting a pet", "The pet as a member of the family-unconditional love” and “Experiences of adopting a pet”. The second category called “Well-being as a positive balance between positive and negative feelings arising from adopting a pet” and the subcategories “Positive feelings related to adopting a pet” and “Negative aspects/concerns related to adoption” and the third category called “Holistic well-being provided by adopting a pet”. Research has shown that the adoption of animals in the pandemic is an excellent therapeutic alternative for all age groups, bringing comfort, safety, joy and company to their tutors; providing them with pleasant feelings arising from this coexistence, positively interfering with their quality of life, promoting their health.