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Xiao N, Bagayi V, Yang D, Huang X, Zhong L, Kiselev S, Bolkov MA, Tuzankina IA, Chereshnev VA. Effectiveness of animal-assisted activities and therapies for autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1403527. [PMID: 38895710 PMCID: PMC11184216 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1403527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Given the rising interest in complementary therapeutic strategies for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of animal-assisted activities and therapies (AAAT) on various ASD symptoms. Methods A meticulous search of databases, including Scopus and PubMed, was conducted to gather relevant research on AAAT for ASD. This process led to the selection of 45 studies encompassing 1,212 participants. The chosen studies were then subjected to a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of AAAT in alleviating core ASD symptoms. Results The meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in several core ASD symptoms due to AAAT. Notably, there were improvements in social communication (MD = -4.96, 95% CI [-7.49, -2.44]), irritability (MD = -2.38, 95% CI [-4.06, -0.71]), hyperactivity (MD = -4.03, 95% CI [-6.17, -1.89]), and different word usage skills (MD = 20.48, 95% CI [7.41, 33.55]). However, social awareness (MD = -1.63, 95% CI [-4.07, 0.81]), social cognition (MD = -3.60, 95% CI [-9.36, 2.17]), social mannerisms (MD = -0.73, 95% CI [-2.55, 1.09]), social motivation (MD = -1.21, 95% CI [-2.56, 0.13]), lethargy (MD = -1.12, 95% CI [-3.92, 1.68]), and stereotypical behaviors (MD = -0.23, 95% CI [-1.27, 0.80]) did not significantly improve. Conclusion The study demonstrates the potential of AAAT in improving certain core symptoms of ASD, such as social communication, irritability, hyperactivity, and word usage skills. However, the effectiveness of AAAT in other ASD symptom domains remains uncertain. The research is limited by the absence of long-term follow-up data and a high risk of bias in existing studies. Therefore, while the findings indicate the promise of AAAT in specific areas, caution is advised in generalizing its efficacy across all ASD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningkun Xiao
- Department of Immunochemistry, Institution of Chemical Engineering, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
- Laboratory for Brain and Neurocognitive Development, Department of Psychology, Institution of Humanities, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Vaishnavi Bagayi
- Laboratory for Brain and Neurocognitive Development, Department of Psychology, Institution of Humanities, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Dandan Yang
- Guang’an District Women and Children’s Hospital, Guangan, China
| | - Xinlin Huang
- Laboratory for Brain and Neurocognitive Development, Department of Psychology, Institution of Humanities, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Lei Zhong
- Doctoral Department, Russian Sports University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Kiselev
- Laboratory for Brain and Neurocognitive Development, Department of Psychology, Institution of Humanities, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail A. Bolkov
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Irina A. Tuzankina
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Valery A. Chereshnev
- Department of Immunochemistry, Institution of Chemical Engineering, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia
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Nieforth LO, Schwichtenberg AJ, O’Haire ME. Animal-Assisted Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature from 2016 to 2020. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2023; 10:255-280. [PMID: 37313251 PMCID: PMC10259834 DOI: 10.1007/s40489-021-00291-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
In the last five years, the literature on animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has doubled in size from 42 studies prior to 2015 to 85 studies (cumulative total assessed in 2020). Horses remain the most commonly researched animal for AAI, followed by dogs. The most commonly researched outcome was social interaction, across 21 studies. Though the quantity of studies has increased, issues with methodological rigor remain. Results highlight the need for a continued focus on methodological rigor as well as refining the structure of animal-assisted interventions, addressing the welfare needs of the animals involved, and continuing to establish an evidence base of both significant and nonsignificant findings for AAI for individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne O. Nieforth
- Center for the Human Animal Bond, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - A. J. Schwichtenberg
- Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Xiao N, Shinwari K, Kiselev S, Huang X, Li B, Qi J. Effects of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2630. [PMID: 36767996 PMCID: PMC9915993 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become a critical public health issue that affects more than 78 million people. In many recent studies, the authors have demonstrated that equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAATs) can substantially improve the social and behavioral skills of children with ASD. However, the qualities of the studies differ, and some authors reached opposite conclusions. In this review, we systematically and objectively examined the effectiveness of EAATs for people with ASD, combining both qualitative and quantitative methods. We searched five databases (PubMed, Scopus, ERIC, ProQuest, and MEDLINE) and added relevant references, and we identified 25 articles for data extraction and analysis. According to our results, EAAT programs can substantially improve the social and behavioral functioning and language abilities of children with ASD. However, among the subdomains, the results were inconsistent. According to the meta-analyses, there were considerable improvements in the social cognition, communication, irritability, and hyperactivity domains, but not in the domains of social awareness, mannerisms, motivation, lethargy, stereotypy, or inappropriate speech. Moreover, there was a lack of sufficient comparative data to conclude that EAAT programs lead to substantial improvements in motor and sensory functioning. In addition, among the included studies, we noted the indicator of whether EAAT programs decreased parental stress and improved family functioning, and although there were four articles in which the researchers considered this aspect, we were unable to draw any conclusions because of the insufficient data and conflicting descriptive evidence. However, we need to consider the improvement in parental mental health as a factor in the effectiveness of this complementary intervention. We hope that in future studies, researchers will focus on family functioning and conduct more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with blinded assessments using different scales and measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningkun Xiao
- Department of Psychology, Institution of Humanities, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg 620075, Russia
| | - Khyber Shinwari
- Department of Immunochemistry, Institution of Chemical Engineering, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg 620075, Russia
| | - Sergey Kiselev
- Department of Psychology, Institution of Humanities, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg 620075, Russia
| | - Xinlin Huang
- Department of Psychology, Institution of Humanities, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg 620075, Russia
| | - Baoheng Li
- Engineering School of Information Technologies, Telecommunications and Control System, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg 620002, Russia
| | - Jingjing Qi
- Engineering School of Information Technologies, Telecommunications and Control System, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg 620002, Russia
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Tárraga-Mínguez R, Lacruz-Pérez I, Peiró-Estela R, Sanz-Cervera P. Terapias y actividades asistidas con animales para niños con TEA: un estudio de revisión. UNIVERSITAS PSYCHOLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.11144/javeriana.upsy20.taaa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Este trabajo incluye una revisión de la literatura publicada entre 2010 y 2019 que aborda la efectividad de las Terapias y Actividades Asistidas con Animales como intervención con niños y adolescentes con Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA). Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, ProQuest, ERIC y Google Scholar, empleando los términos [(animal assisted therapy OR animal assisted intervention OR dog-assisted therapy OR equine-assisted therapy OR dolphin-assisted therapy) AND (autism OR ASD)]. Se identificaron 245 estudios, de los cuales se seleccionaron 40 con base en diferentes criterios de inclusión, tales como que las intervenciones descritas tengan un enfoque psicoeducativo y sean evaluadas mediante instrumentos rigurosos. En cada uno de ellos se revisaron las variables analizadas, los instrumentos de evaluación utilizados, las características de cada intervención y los resultados obtenidos. Los resultados sugieren que los animales más utilizados son el caballo y el perro, y que este tipo de intervención tiene efectos positivos para niños con TEA en áreas como la interacción y la comunicación social, el comportamiento y el desarrollo motor, entre otros. Se concluye que es una intervención beneficiosa para niños y adolescentes con autismo, aunque siempre como complemento de otro tipo de tratamientos.
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Jeon BJ, Son SM. Social interaction changes in people with intellectual disabilities through the application of equine-assisted intervention in Korea. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:3573-3581. [PMID: 34017538 PMCID: PMC8129379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to provide basic information about the social interaction changes in people with intellectual disabilities through the application of equine-assisted intervention (EAI) in Korea. The subjects were 12 people with intellectual disabilities residing in a residential care facility in Korea. EAI was applied and consisted of communal activities and horseback riding. The intervention was conducted for 60 minutes each session, two sessions a week for 12 weeks. To determine the psychological aspects of the social interaction changes after the study cohort participated in the EAI, their social interaction anxiety, social phobia, and social avoidance and distress were measured. Their social interaction anxiety was measured using the Korean-Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (K-SIAS), and their social phobia was measured using the Korean-Social Phobia Scale (K-SPS). To measure their social avoidance and distress, the Korean-Social Avoidance and Distress scale (K-SADS) was used. The social interaction anxiety, social phobia, and social avoidance and distress results showed a continuous decrease after the application of EAI. Thus, the application of EAI, including communal activities and horseback riding, should be considered for people with intellectual disabilities in order to decrease their social interaction anxieties, phobias, and social avoidance and distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byoung-Jin Jeon
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Kangwon National UniversitySamcheok, South Korea
| | - Sung-Min Son
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Joenju Kijeon CollegeJeonju, South Korea
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Zhao M, Chen S, You Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y. Effects of a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program on Social Interaction and Communication in Children with Autism. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18052656. [PMID: 33800787 PMCID: PMC7967314 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Various therapeutic interventions have been studied and found to be effective in reducing the stereotypical behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There has been increasing interest in using animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) as an alternative approach to therapeutic rehabilitation for children with ASD, and many studies have reported that AAI has significant benefits for the cognitive, psychological, and social behavior of children with ASD. The present study was designed to examine the effects of a 16 weeks therapeutic horseback riding program on social interaction and communication skills in children with autism. Eighty-four children diagnosed with ASD, aged between 6 and 12 years old, were recruited for this study. All selected participants met the DSM-V criteria, and a total of sixty-one participants (N = 61) completed the study. A quasi-experimental design with an experimental group and control group was implemented for this study, taking measurements at pre-test, interim-test, and post-test to monitor the behavior changes in social and communication throughout the 16-week intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA and the independent sample t-test were used for data analysis, to assess the difference between the experimental group and control group. The results indicated that the THR program had positive influences on overall social skills and communication, based on the SSIS and the ABLLS-R scores, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). A notable improvement in the overall social interaction score was observed from the interim-testing point to post-test. In addition, participants in the therapeutic horseback riding (THR) group achieved significant improvements on six out of seven items in their communication evaluations. In conclusion, after 16 weeks of intervention, the THR program significantly enhanced the subdomains of social and communication skills in the areas of social interaction, communication, responsibility, and self-control, compared to the control group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxian Zhao
- School of Physical Education, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China;
| | - Shihui Chen
- Department of Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, Texarkana, TX 75503, USA
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yonghao You
- Department of Sports Science, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230061, China;
| | - Yongtai Wang
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA;
| | - Yanjie Zhang
- School of Humanities and Social Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (Y.Z.)
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Maresca G, Portaro S, Naro A, Crisafulli R, Raffa A, Scarcella I, Aliberti B, Gemelli G, Calabrò RS. Hippotherapy in neurodevelopmental disorders: a narrative review focusing on cognitive and behavioral outcomes. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CHILD 2020; 11:553-560. [PMID: 33949903 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2020.1852084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Hippotherapy (HT) is a rehabilitative tool inducing psychological and motor improvements using human-horse interaction. HT provides sensory stimulation to the rider through the rhythmic and repetitive movements of the horse, facilitating communication between patients and healthcare professionals, favoring the establishment of a therapeutic alliance. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effects of HT treatment on cognitive-behavioral processes in neurodevelopmental disorders. We screened studies published between 2002 and 2020 on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Sciences databases. The search combined the following terms: "hippotherapy"; "horseback riding"; "equine-assisted therapy"; "developmental disorder"; "autism spectrum disorder"; "dyspraxia"; "infantile cerebral palsy"; and "attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder". This review shows that HT can be a valuable tool for the treatment of developmental disorders. The psychological, cognitive and relational areas could benefit from the animal-child interaction to promote child autonomy, self-esteem, self-efficacy and openness to others. Physical, motor and psychosocial benefits were found in adolescents with anxiety and/or depression disorders, in autism spectrum disorders, dyspraxia, as well as in infantile cerebral palsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. HT could be considered an alternative therapeutic tool thanks to the relationship between patient-horse-instructor and to the sensory-motor and cognitive stimulation that enforce learning processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Raffa
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
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Animal-Assisted Interventions for School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 51:2436-2449. [PMID: 32990899 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04715-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Research has indicated beneficial effects of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) for children with Autism. However, there is a dearth of meta-analyses and findings are often contradictory. The current meta-analysis assesses the effectiveness of AAIs on social interaction, communication and global Autism symptoms. A total of 1447 studies were returned, of which 16 (n = 489) met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analyses indicated small effect sizes related to improvements in social interaction and communication and reduction in Autism Spectrum Disorder symptoms. Additionally, there was little evidence for a relationship between dosage and effect size. In conclusion, AAIs appear to offer small improvements in social interaction and communication for children with Autism, which may be comparable to activities used in active control conditions.
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Parental Perception of Changes in Basic Life Needs of Children with Disabilities after Six Months of Therapeutic Horseback Riding: A Qualitative Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17041213. [PMID: 32069999 PMCID: PMC7068330 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) has a positive effect on the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning of children with disabilities. Parents’ reports of the effects of THR on their children support professionals in individualizing the THR program. With this qualitative study, we aimed to explore parents’ perceptions of changes in the basic life needs of their children with disabilities after six months of THR lessons and to survey parents’ explanations for the causes of these changes. The study involved parents of 13 children with disabilities who were enrolled in a six-month THR program. Parents continuously monitored their children and wrote a report on possible changes in their child’s needs according to Virginia Henderson’s need theory. Qualitative content analysis of parents’ reports indicated only positive changes in 11 children. Most codes were identified in categories “relationships and communication with other people” and “movement and posturing”. Other categories identified codes such as easier breathing, a better quality of sleep, better appetite, better elimination of stool and urine, more independence in clothing and maintaining personal hygiene, and greater interest in play and learning. Parents’ reports are further supported by the assessments of professionals. Most parents think THR is responsible for the noticeable improvements in their children’s quality of life.
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