Attitudes to animals : demographics within a community sample

The results of various studies have suggested a range of demographic and personality variables that may impact upon attitudes towards the treatment of non-human species however little consensus has been reached within the literature. The Attitude to Animals Scale (AAS), developed by Herzog and associates, has been used within various limited populations as a quantitative measure of attitudes towards the treatment of non-human species. In the current study the AAS was administered to a large community sample within Australia resulting in approximately 600 respondents. Demographic variables such as age, educational level, presence of children in the current dwelling, current and past companion animal ownership were found to have no statistically significant effect on AAS scores. Both occupation and income were found to have an effect on AAS scores. All of these variables are examined and their effects (or lack thereof) are discussed.