A multispecies journey: companion animals and family development from a life-course perspective

• López-Cepero-Borrego, Javier ^[1] ; Español, Alicia ^[1] ; Rodríguez Banda, Ángel ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad de Sevilla

     Universidad de Sevilla

     Sevilla, España

     
• Localización: RES. Revista Española de Sociología, ISSN 1578-2824, ISSN-e 2445-0367, Vol. 34, Nº. 1, 2025 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Artículos sobre miscelánea y debate sobre las inundaciones en Valencia)
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.22325/fes/res.2025.252
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Un viaje multiespecie: animales de compañía y evolución familiar desde una perspectiva de trayectoria vital
• Enlaces
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• Dialnet Métricas: 1 Cita
• Resumen
  • español

    El presente estudio analiza el papel de los animales de compañía en el curso de vida de la familia. Utiliza para ello un enfoque evolutivo, conceptualizando el vínculo entre especies como una intersección de trayectorias vitales de animales humanos y no humanos. Se llevaron a cabo tres grupos focales en línea y se realizó un análisis temático utilizando una perspectiva vivencial y constructivista. Los cuatro temas extraídos hacen referencia a momentos de convivencia: 1) la llegada del animal, 2) la maduración conjunta de la relación, 3) los cambios relacionados con las transiciones familiares, y 4) el final de la relación. Estos temas describen cómo la individualidad de los animales de compañía y la identidad de la familia coevolucionan a lo largo del curso de la vida y ponen de relieve los retos a los que se enfrentan las familias. Estos hallazgos contribuyen a la literatura que cuestiona los discursos sociales dominantes y muestran modelos emergentes de familias multiespecies. 

  • English

    This study provides information about the role of companion animals in the life courses of the family from a developmental approach, conceiving the bond between species as the intersection of journeys of humans and companions. Three online focus groups were conducted. A thematic analysis was performed, using an experiential and constructivist perspective. Four themes referred to moments of co-existence: 1) the arrival of the companion, 2) the joint maturation of the relationship, 3) changes related to family transitions, and 4) the end of the relationship. These themes describe how the selfhood of the companions and the identity of the family coevolves along the life-course and highlight the challenges the families face. These findings contribute to the literature that questions dominating social discourses and show emerging models of multispecies families.

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