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Frontiers in public health2024; 12; 1372189; doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1372189

Animal-assisted interventions for military families: a systematic review.

Abstract: The incorporation of animals into interventions focused on military families is a relatively new concept. Though animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) have been studied in the context of military veterans, few studies incorporate members of the military family or focus on the family members' experiences. Unassigned: This systematic review investigates the effects of AAIs on the wellbeing of military family members beyond the veteran themselves through three aims: (1) by describing the characteristics of AAIs for military family members, (2) by evaluating the quality of the methodology present within the current literature, and (3) by identifying key concepts and knowledge gaps within the findings reported to date. Unassigned: A total of nine articles met the criteria to be included in the review. Though the inclusion criteria and search terms included all types of animal-assisted interventions, the only interventions represented were service dogs ( = 4) and equine-assisted services ( = 5). Unassigned: Findings suggest AAIs could be beneficial in areas such as communication, relational bonds, and psychosocial well-being. Though additional research is necessary, AAIs may be an effective complementary intervention for military families.
Copyright © 2024 Nieforth and Leighton.
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Publication Date: 2024-05-14 PubMed ID: 38813415PubMed Central: PMC11135175DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1372189Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Systematic Review
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study systematically reviews existing research on animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) specifically for military family members, evaluating the types of interventions used, the quality of studies, and the effects on family well-being beyond just veterans.
  • The review identified potential benefits of AAIs in improving communication, relationships, and psychosocial well-being among military families but also highlights the need for further research in this area.

Introduction to the Research Topic

  • Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) involve incorporating animals into therapeutic or supportive practices aimed at improving human health and well-being.
  • While AAIs have been studied extensively with military veterans, there is relatively little research on their effects on the wider military family, including spouses, children, and other relatives.
  • This gap presents a need to explore how AAIs can support military family members, who face unique challenges related to military life such as deployment stress, frequent relocations, and reintegration issues.

Aims of the Systematic Review

  • To characterize the types of AAIs used with military family members.
  • To evaluate the quality and rigor of the existing research methodologies in this area.
  • To identify key findings, concepts, and any knowledge gaps in the research about the effects of AAIs on military families.

Methods and Selection of Studies

  • The systematic review involved a comprehensive search of literature using criteria that did not limit the type of AAI, aiming to capture all relevant studies with military family participants.
  • A total of nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in the review.
  • Despite the broad search parameters, only two types of AAIs appeared in the studies: service dogs (4 studies) and equine-assisted services (5 studies).

Findings on Types of Interventions

  • Service Dogs: These are trained dogs that assist individuals, often providing emotional support or physical assistance, with an emphasis in the studies on their interaction with family members.
  • Equine-Assisted Services: These interventions involve interactions with horses, defined broadly to include therapeutic riding, equine-assisted therapy, and other horse-related activities aimed at improving psychosocial outcomes.

Reported Benefits of AAIs for Military Families

  • Improvements in communication between family members, potentially helping to ease reintegration and relationship challenges following deployment.
  • Strengthening of relational bonds within the family unit, possibly by providing shared positive experiences and emotional connection facilitated by the animal.
  • Enhancements in psychosocial well-being, including reductions in stress and anxiety as well as increased feelings of support and connectedness.

Quality and Limitations of Current Research

  • The review assesses the methodological quality of included studies, noting variability in research design rigor, sample sizes, and outcome measurements.
  • Many studies are preliminary or exploratory, limiting the ability to draw firm conclusions or generalize findings broadly.
  • The narrow representation of AAI types (only service dogs and equine-assisted services) suggests a need to investigate other animals or intervention formats.
  • There is a lack of longitudinal data to assess long-term effects of AAIs on military family members.

Knowledge Gaps and Future Directions

  • Further research is needed to include a broader range of animal-assisted approaches beyond those currently studied.
  • More rigorous, controlled studies with larger samples are necessary to substantiate initial positive findings.
  • Research should diversify to consider different family members’ unique experiences and needs, including children and spouses separately.
  • Exploration of mechanisms by which AAIs may influence family dynamics, and psychosocial health is limited and warrants more study.

Conclusions

  • Animal-assisted interventions show promising potential as complementary therapeutic tools to support the well-being of military family members.
  • Despite the early stage of research, AAIs may enhance communication, relational connection, and psychosocial health in military families, providing benefits beyond veteran-focused interventions.
  • This review emphasizes the importance of additional focused research to clarify and expand understanding of AAIs in this population.

Cite This Article

APA
Nieforth LO, Leighton SC. (2024). Animal-assisted interventions for military families: a systematic review. Front Public Health, 12, 1372189. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1372189

Publication

Frontiers in public health
ISSN: 2296-2565
NlmUniqueID: 101616579
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Pages: 1372189
PII: 1372189

Researcher Affiliations

Nieforth, Leanne O
  • Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.
Leighton, Sarah C
  • Department of Psychology, College of Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Animal Assisted Therapy
  • Military Family / psychology
  • Animals
  • Dogs
  • Military Personnel / psychology
  • Family / psychology
  • Horses
  • Veterans / psychology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Williamson L, Rath G, Dell C. An exploratory investigation of psychosocial effects of service dogs on veterans' families from the perspective of family members.. Front Psychol 2025;16:1574445.
    doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1574445pubmed: 40808725google scholar: lookup
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