Psychometric Adaptation and Preliminary Validation of the MDORS-CL26 and Determinants of the Human–Dog Bond Among Chilean University Students

Abstract

The relationship between people and their dogs can play a meaningful role in emotional support and psychological well-being, especially during university years. However, there are few validated instruments available for assessing the human–dog bond in Latin American populations. The present study sought to adapt and evaluate the Mexican version of the Monash Dog–Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS-M) for use with Chilean university students and also explore demographic and living arrangement factors associated with the strength of this relationship. A total of 312 undergraduate students who owned at least one dog participated in the study. The psychometric evaluation was conducted in two phases. First, the original 28-item MDORS-M was examined through exploratory factor analysis. Two items belonging to the Dog–Owner Interaction dimension showed substantial overlap with other factors and were therefore removed. A second exploratory factor analysis supported a revised 26-item version, referred to as the MDORS-CL26, which retained the scale’s three underlying dimensions: Dog–Owner Interaction, Emotional Closeness, and Perceived Costs. The resulting instrument showed strong reliability and internal consistency. Overall reliability indices were high (Cronbach’s α = 0.87; McDonald’s ω = 0.89), while reliability estimates for the individual subscales ranged from 0.77 to 0.90. Item-level analyses indicated that all remaining items contributed to their respective dimensions and should be retained. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the proposed three-factor structure, with all item–factor associations reaching statistical significance. Participants reported strong emotional connections with their dogs as more than nine out of ten students (92.3%) scored highly on Emotional Closeness, while nearly two-thirds (64.4%) reported moderate levels of Dog–Owner Interaction. In contrast, perceptions of the costs or burdens associated with dog ownership were comparatively low (56.1%). Female students tended to report stronger emotional bonds and more frequent interactions with their dogs than male students, although perceptions of cost of ownership were similar across groups. In addition, students whose dogs lived primarily indoors and those who shared the bedrooms, reported stronger and more positive relationship scores. The study contributes to the currently expanding body of anthrozoological research emerging from the Global South.