DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Mental stress of animal researchers and suggestions for relief

  • Ahn, Na (Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Park, Jaehak (Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Roh, Sangho (School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University)
  • 투고 : 2022.03.07
  • 심사 : 2022.03.14
  • 발행 : 2022.03.31

초록

The use of animals heavily impacts the mental health of researchers performing the animal experiments. The animal researchers need to take care of animals but also give pain and sacrifice them at the same time. This circumstance can cause a variety of mental stress to the researchers. The stress generated in the laboratory would not only negatively affect the management of animals and the research results, but also would harm the researchers' physical and mental health. Because the feeling of sympathy for animals is a natural feature of humanity, psychological stress following a laboratory animal's death after use is not surprising. It is necessary to revise the relevant laws based on understanding the difficulties of animal researchers in society and to develop related educational programs at the national level to help the psychology and emotions of researchers who conduct animal experiments.

키워드

참고문헌

  1. Ahn N, Park J, Roh S. 2022. Ethics in animal research: a focus on animal procurement and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. J. Periodontal Implant Sci. 52:1-2. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.225201edi01
  2. Ahn N, Roh S, Park J. 2021. The status and issues of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Seoul National University: from its establishment to the present day. Exp. Anim. 70:532-540. https://doi.org/10.1538/expanim.21-0066
  3. Arluke A. 1994. Managing emotions in an animal shelter. In: Manning A and Serpell J (Eds.), Animals and Human Society: Changing Perspectives, Routledge, New York, pp. 145-165.
  4. Arluke A. 1999. Uneasiness among laboratory technicians. Occup. Med. 14:305-316.
  5. Herzog H. 2002. Ethical aspects of relationships between humans and research animals. ILAR J. 43:27-32. https://doi.org/10.1093/ilar.43.1.27
  6. Kang M, Han A, Kim DE, Seidle T, Lim KM, Bae S. 2018. Mental stress from animal experiments: a survey with Korean researchers. Toxicol. Res. 34:75-81. https://doi.org/10.5487/TR.2018.34.1.075
  7. Mo HJ. 2016. A pilot study on psychological stress in laboratory animal researchers. Bioeth. Policy Stud. 9:133-159.
  8. NHRCK (National Human Rights Commission of Korea). 2017. Livestock slaughter and burial participant trauma survey report. https://www.humanrights.go.kr/site/program/board/basicboard/view?currentpage=2&menuid=001003001004001&pagesize=10&boardtypeid=16&boardid=7602437. Accessed 6 March 2022.
  9. Reeve CL, Rogelberg SG, Spitzmuller C, Digiacomo N. 2005. The caring-killing paradox: euthanasia-related strain among animal-shelter workers. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 35:119-143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2005.tb02096.x
  10. Rohlf V and Bennett P. 2005. Perpetration-induced traumatic stress in persons who euthanize nonhuman animals in surgeries, animal shelters, and laboratories. Soc. Anim. 13:201-219. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568530054927753
  11. Russell WMS and Burch RL. 1959. The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. Methuen & Co Ltd, London, p. 238.
  12. Walshaw SO. 1994. Animal death and human emotion in the laboratory. Lab Anim. (N.Y.) 23:24-29.