Table 1.
Study findings of sequelae of childhood witnessing of animal cruelty, 1997 - 2017
| Reference | Sample | Country | Childhood Sequelae | Adulthood Sequelae | Outcome * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miller and Knutson (1997) |
Inmates (n = 314) |
USA |
Physical coercion* sexual coercion** |
1 | |
| Flynn (1999) |
Undergraduates (n = 267) |
USA |
Animal cruelty* Self-report of negative psychological impact* |
Approval of using violence within relationships* | 1, 2, 3 |
| Baldry (2003) |
13 to 19 years (n = 1392) |
Italy | Animal cruelty ** | 3 | |
| Becker et al. (2004) |
Mother-child dyads (n = 336) |
USA | Firesetting*, official referrals for violent offenses and general delinquency** | 1, 2 | |
| Henry (2004) |
17–46 years (n = 206) |
USA |
Animal cruelty more prevalent among those who witnessed cruelty before age of 13 ** Delinquent behaviors (included assault)** |
3 | |
| Hensley and Tallichet (2005) |
Adult inmates (n = 261) |
USA | Animal cruelty * | Animal cruelty* | 3 |
| Thompson and Gullone (2006) |
12–18 years (n = 281) |
USA | Animal cruelty ** | 3 | |
| Ascione et al. (2007) |
Mothers (n = 147) Children (n = 39) |
USA | Internalizing and externalizing symptoms as result of witnessing animal cruelty and domestic violence* | 2 | |
| Daly and Morton (2008) |
Undergraduates (n = 427) |
USA | Hardening of emotions (less distress) ** | 2 | |
| Gullone and Robertson (2008) |
Secondary school (n = 249) |
Australia |
Animal cruelty ** Bullying ** |
1, 3 | |
| Volant et al. (2008) | Mothers reporting on children (n = 204) | USA | Animal cruelty more prevalent among those who witnessed animal cruelty and family violence. | 3 | |
| DeGue and DiLillo (2009) |
College students (n = 860) |
USA | Animal cruelty** | 3 | |
| Girardi and Pozzulo (2015) |
College students (n = 318) |
Canada | Higher rates of anxiety* and depression** | 2 | |
| Browne et al. (2016) |
Adult inmates (n = 257) |
USA | Animal cruelty age of onset earlier for those who witness sibling commit cruelty compared to parents* | Animal cruelty* | 3 |
| McDonald et al. (2016) |
7–12 years (n = 291) |
USA | Attention problems, social problems, internalizing behaviors, externalizing problems, empathy, callous traits | 2 | |
| McDonald et al. (2017a) |
7–12 years (n = 291) |
USA | Empathy, attention problems, social problems, callous traits and justification of animal cruelty | 2 | |
| Plant et al. (2016) |
13–17 years (n = 280) |
Germany Romania | Animal cruelty more prevalent in areas where witnessing animal cruelty is more common** | 2, 3 |
*Outcome category (1 = violence towards humans, 2 = externalizing/internalizing symptoms 3 = animal cruelty)
*= p < 0.05, **=p < 0