Validation of the HHHHHMM Scale in the Italian Context: Assessing Pets’ Quality of Life and Qualitatively Exploring Owners’ Grief

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Human guardians and companion animals develop special and unique bonds. Therefore, witnessing the terminal illness and subsequent death of a companion animal can be a stressful experience for human guardians. Professionals in the veterinary and psychological sciences can support human guardians through the caring and grieving processes. The aim of this research was to validate in the Italian context the HHHHMM Quality of Life Scale, which is specifically used to help human guardians assess companion animals’ quality of life. To this end, other scales and open-ended questions were adopted to test hypotheses and deepen understanding of the grieving experience. The results confirmed the usefulness of the scale and highlighted important correlations between age, bereavement, and attachment. Further, a thematic qualitative analysis revealed the importance of the relationship between the human guardian and the veterinarian as well as the need for social support after the loss. The findings clearly showed that the bond between a human guardian and a companion animal does not cease after the loss of the animal; rather, it continues in new forms. Overall, the present research confirmed the importance of the veterinary and psychological sciences working together to provide complete support for human guardians. ABSTRACT: Witnessing a companion animal’s death can be a stressful psychological experience for human guardians, affecting their ability to grieve. The veterinary and psychological sciences offer useful tools for supporting human guardians during their companion animal’s terminal illness. Accordingly, the present study aimed to validate the HHHHMM Quality of Life Scale in the Italian context. The study followed a mixed-methods design and involved 314 participants. The Mourning Dog Questionnaire (MDQ), Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS), Pet Bereavement Questionnaire (PBQ), and open-ended questions were adopted to test the research hypotheses and qualitatively explore the grieving experience. The results showed that the model’s fit was partially adequate, with all parameters being significant and over 0.40. Moreover, human guardians’ anger levels were high when their companion animal’s quality of life was poor, and greater levels of grief were associated with higher levels of attachment. Gender differences were observed only with the LAPS, and a negative correlation with age was found with the LAPS and PBQ. A thematic qualitative analysis revealed four themes: continuing bonds, coping strategies, shared moral values, and perceived support. Thus, the research reaffirmed the importance of adequate veterinary and psychological support for human guardians experiencing the loss of companion animals.