Attitudes to Animals in Cyprus and the UK: Associations with Personality, Delinquency, and Morality

The study aim was to investigate the associations between personality factors, attitudes to animals, moral values, and delinquent behaviors, and to examine the moderating effects of gender, age, and country of origin on these associations. This was a cross-cultural comparison of residents of Cyprus and the UK. A total of 526 people completed an online questionnaire and a path analysis was carried out. Persons who reported more positive attitudes to animals reported higher agreeableness and conscientiousness, lower delinquency, and were more likely to be Cypriot. Those reporting more delinquent behaviors expressed lower agreeableness and low conscientiousness and were residents of the UK. Persons with higher scores for self-reported morality also reported higher agreeableness and conscientiousness and were more likely to be Cypriot residents. The findings support previous studies on personality and attitudes toward animal welfare and suggest that positive attitudes to animal welfare may be linked to more rural lifestyles.