Family Dynamics in Couples who Choose Having Pets Instead of Children

Geny Zorany Uñates Mazo
Meliza Avendaño Peña
Abad Ernesto Parada Trujillo
Isabel Cristina Quiroz
Tecnológico de Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract:

This article describes the family dynamics of couples who have chosen not having children but pets. The qualitative study followed a phenomenological method framed within an interpretive paradigm. Five participating young couples went through an interview where they responded to questions related to motivations, roles, communication, and affective relationships. The data collected were coded with the support of the Atlas Ti software. This process yielded 4 inductive categories, 48 axial codes and 142 open codes, which show that the couples under study welcome pets into their home not as a replacement for children, but to provide themselves with unconditional company and mutual affection. The recognition of pets as a family member in their own right is due to their active participation in family dynamics and the affective and emotional bonds generated.

Keywords: Family dynamics, family, multispecies family, pets, childless couples.