Promoting psychosocial adaptation of youths in residential care through animal-assisted psychotherapy |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Department of Social Psychology and Methodology of the Behavioural Sciences, Avenida de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain;2. Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Doctor Begiristain Kalea, 20014 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain;3. University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, Avenida de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain;1. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce De Leon Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0751;2. Department of Education, Leadership and Professional Studies Florida International University, Miami, FL;3. Behavioral Health Promotion Program, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Miami, FL;1. Section for Public Health Science, Department of Landscape, Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway;2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College, Oslo, Norway;3. Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, Netherlands;4. Faculty of Health and Social Work Studies, Østfold University College, Fredrikstad, Norway;1. Kingston Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities, Hollyfield House, 22 Hollyfield Road, Surbiton KT5 9AL, UK;2. Access Child and Youth Mental Health, Building 19, Springfield Hospital, 61 Glenburnie Road, London SW17 7DJ, UK;3. Division of Psychiatry, Charles Bell House, 67-73 Riding House Street, London W1W 7EY, UK;1. Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan;2. Physical Education and Medicine Research Foundation, Japan;3. Department of Drug Policy and Management, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan;4. Department of Functioning Activation, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan;5. Mimaki Onsen (Spa) Clinic, Tomi City, Japan;6. Social Welfare Service Corporation CARE-PORT MIMAKI, Japan;7. Physical Education and Medicine Research Center Unnan, Japan;8. Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan;9. The Research Institute of Nippon Sport Science University, Japan |
| |
| Abstract: | The goal of this study was to examine the influence of animal-assisted psychotherapy (AAP) on the psychosocial adaptation of a group of adolescents in residential care who had suffered traumatic childhood experiences and who presented with mental health problems. This study recruited 63 youths (mean age = 15.27, SD = 1.63) who were divided into two groups: a treatment group of 39 youths (19 female and 20 male; mean age = 15.03, SD = 0.51) and a control group of 24 (five female and 19 male; mean age = 15.67, SD = 1.63). The youths who underwent the AAP program had higher school adjustment in comparison to their peers who did not receive treatment. Their hyperactive behavior decreased, and they showed better social skills, more leadership, and fewer attention problems. They also showed a more positive attitude toward their teachers in comparison to controls. No differences were observed in other variables associated with clinical symptoms or personal adjustment. These results suggest that AAP can be effective with teenagers who have suffered childhood traumas and who present with problems of psychosocial adaptation. |
| |
| Keywords: | Residential care Psychosocial adaptation Animal-assisted psychotherapy |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
