Abstract
Farmed animal policy and advocacy efforts both attempt to generate and depend upon public support. However, relatively little is known about the factors that predict support for animal protection legislation and advocacy across the globe. We analyse data from a large international survey (23 countries, n = 20,966) alongside other data sources on animal advocacy to investigate knowledge of factory farming, the connection between attitudes towards animals and the strength of animal protection legislation, attitudes towards animals based on their food status in different countries, and the connection between personal support for policy, animal advocacy, civic activism, and animal advocacy organisations. We found that higher support for animal welfare is associated with stronger farm animal protection legislation across countries and that concerns about specific animals can vary depending on cultural and religious factors. Contrary to study hypotheses, we did not find greater support for advocacy in countries with more advocacy organisations, suggesting important opportunities to pursue advocacy in relatively neglected regions. Results are interpreted in terms of how farmed animal advocates can take advantage of and potentially generate support for animal welfare throughout the world.
Generated Summary
This study employed a cross-cultural approach, utilizing data from a large international survey conducted across 23 countries to explore the factors influencing public support for farmed animal welfare policies and advocacy. The research utilized multilevel models to analyze the relationships between public attitudes, animal welfare legislation, and animal advocacy efforts. The methodology involved examining the associations between animal welfare legislation, animal consumption norms, factory farming perceptions, and animal advocacy support. The study also incorporated various control variables, including age, gender, education, and GDP per capita, to account for potential confounding factors. The study’s design and data analysis were preregistered, ensuring a rigorous approach to hypothesis testing. Overall, the research aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the global landscape of animal welfare support and its influencing factors, examining how cultural and religious practices, perceptions of factory farming, and engagement in animal advocacy efforts contribute to this complex issue.
Key Findings & Statistics
- The study involved data from 20,802 participants across 23 countries.
- The strength of animal welfare legislation was positively associated with support for farmed animal welfare (β = -.19, 95% CI [-.29, -.08]) and aquatic animal welfare (β = -.15, 95% CI [-.27, -.04]).
- The study found no significant difference in feelings of personal connection to goats between goat-eating and non-goat-eating countries (β = .20, 95% CI [-.29, .68]).
- There was no significant difference in feelings of personal connection to pigs between pig-eating and non-pig-eating countries (β = .23, 95% CI [-.79, 1.25]).
- Individuals in India, a non-cow-eating country, reported greater feelings of personal connection to cows (β = -1.36, 95% CI [-2.45, -.26]).
- Muslims showed fewer feelings of personal connection to pigs compared to non-Muslims (β = -1.85, 95% CI [-2.01, -1.68]).
- Hindus reported greater feelings of personal connection to cows compared to non-Hindus (β = .54, 95% CI [.23, .84]).
- In 86% of the countries, people underestimated the rate of factory farming.
- The number of animal organizations per capita was unrelated to animal advocacy organization support (β = .16, 95% CI [-.17, .49]).
- There was no significant relationship between personal commitment to animal advocacy and the Civic Activism Index (β = 7.60, 95% CI [-6.79, 21.98]).
- The average estimates of factory farming ranged from 50-70% across all of the 21 countries.
Other Important Findings
- Higher support for animal welfare was associated with stronger farm animal protection legislation across countries.
- Concerns about specific animals can vary depending on cultural and religious factors.
- The study found that the effect of the number of animal organizations per capita was unrelated to animal advocacy organization support.
- The research revealed that the number of animal organizations per capita was not related to animal advocacy support.
- The relationship between personal commitment to animal advocacy and civic engagement was not significant.
Limitations Noted in the Document
- The survey data relied on self-reported questionnaires, which are subject to data quality concerns.
- The measures used were brief and largely not validated in prior research.
- The generalizability and nuance were limited due to the lack of detail with which some important issues could be measured.
- The study’s scope was limited as it did not explore the relationship between support for animal advocacy and the number of animal advocacy organizations if GDP per capita were also considered.
- It is possible that the Civic Activism Index would be correlated with personal willingness to take part in animal advocacy if support for animal welfare was also considered.
Conclusion
The study’s findings underscore the complex interplay between public support for animal welfare, the strength of animal welfare legislation, and cultural and religious factors. The research revealed that public opinion on animal welfare tends to translate into regulation of animal agriculture, and that stronger animal welfare laws influence public attitudes. These findings support the idea that public support for animal welfare tends to translate into regulation. The study also showed that concerns about specific animals vary depending on cultural and religious factors. These are all countries where there are relatively few animal advocacy organizations despite a relatively high level of claimed support. Advocates in these countries may be able to draw additional resources from a supportive public. It suggests that education about factory farming may be a promising area of focus for policy and advocacy. Furthermore, there was no correlation between stated support for animal organizations and the number of animal advocacy organizations per capita, nor between personal commitment to animal advocacy and the level of civic activism more broadly. The research also revealed that the majority of countries underestimate the proportion of animals on factory farms, this may be a promising area of focus for policy and advocacy. The study suggests that regions with relatively high support but relatively few animal advocacy organizations may have high potential to benefit from advocacy work. This research highlights the importance of understanding the global landscape of animal welfare support and the factors that influence it, offering valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and advocates working to improve animal welfare worldwide.