Preliminary Exploration of Weekly Peer Group Discussions as a Strategy for Coping with Feelings Associated with Euthanasia in Dairy Caretakers

Lily Edwards-Callaway, Hailey Simpson, Noa Román-Muñiz, Catie Cramer, Sage Mijares, Lorann Stallones, Jorge Rivera-Gonzalez and Jennifer Aberle
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Lily Edwards-Callaway: Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Hailey Simpson: Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Noa Román-Muñiz: Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Catie Cramer: Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Sage Mijares: Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Lorann Stallones: Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Jorge Rivera-Gonzalez: Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Jennifer Aberle: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Dairy caretakers experience a variety of occupational risks including stress related to performing euthanasia and making euthanasia-related decisions for cattle in their care. Few supportive interventions exist to help caretakers cope with euthanasia-related stress. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of weekly peer discussion sessions as an intervention to reduce euthanasia-related stress and grief in dairy caretakers. This study utilized scores from a modified pet-based bereavement questionnaire to assess the change in bereavement of caretakers in response to euthanasia-related stress in a non-treatment group (who did not attend peer discussion sessions, n = 7) and a treatment group (who attended peer discussion sessions, n = 15). Key findings of this study were that discussion sessions did not have a direct impact on the study outcomes as measured using a pet bereavement scale, as there was no difference in the change in bereavement scores during the 8 week study period between the treatment and non-treatment groups. Thematic analysis of peer discussions revealed that compassion towards dairy cattle is a prominent factor in areas of decision making, protocols, and training. Further studies should continue to explore how performing euthanasia and making euthanasia-related decisions impacts caretakers and what supportive interventions can reduce stress and grief.

Keywords: bereavement; caretakers; coping strategy; dairy cattle; euthanasia; grief (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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