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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Autism Dev Disord / Brief Report: The Effects of Equine-Assisted Activities on t...
Journal of autism and developmental disorders2016; 46(10); 3344-3352; doi: 10.1007/s10803-016-2869-3

Brief Report: The Effects of Equine-Assisted Activities on the Social Functioning in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract: Equine-assisted activities and therapies are increasing in popularity for treatment of ASD symptoms. This research evaluated effects of a 5-week programme of therapeutic riding on social functioning of children/adolescents (N = 15) with ASD. The effectiveness of the programme was evaluated using the autism spectrum quotient, the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale and the empathising and systemising quotient. Results established that the TR intervention increased empathising and reduced maladaptive behaviours. The findings also indicated that specific adaptive behaviours like socialization and communication were not affected by the intervention. Thus, a complex picture of the effects of this intervention emerges: while TR does not change all of the child's behaviour, it can improve specific aspects of social functioning and also reduce maladaptive ASD traits.
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Publication Date: 2016-07-28 PubMed ID: 27457363PubMed Central: PMC5040734DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2869-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research article investigates whether a 5-week equine-assisted activity program can improve social functioning in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The results indicated it increased empathising and reduced certain undesirable behaviours, but it did not significantly affect socialization and communication.

Objective and Methodology of the Research

  • This research aimed to investigate the effects of Therapeutic Riding (TR), a form of equine-assisted activity, on the social functioning of children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
  • The sample population comprised 15 participants with ASD who underwent a 5-week therapeutic riding programme.
  • The team evaluated the effects of the programme using three assessment tools: the Autism Spectrum Quotient, the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, and the Empathising and Systemising Quotient.

Findings of the Research

  • The results determined that the therapeutic riding program led to an increase in empathising, which means the participants became more capable of sympathising with others’ emotions and perspectives.
  • There was also a decrease observed in maladaptive behaviours, implying a reduction in behaviours typical of ASD that can be harmful or prevent adaptive behaviour.
  • However, the research found that the intervention did not significantly improve adaptive behaviours associated with socialisation and communication. In other words, the program did not notably enhance the ability of the participants to interact and communicate effectively with others.

Implication of Results

  • The findings present a nuanced perspective on the effects of the Therapeutic Riding intervention. They suggest that while the intervention does not alter all the behaviours in a child with ASD, it can improve some specific aspects of social functioning and alleviate certain maladaptive ASD traits.
  • This result underscores the need for more comprehensive and targeted interventions to bring a broader range of improvements in the behaviours of children with ASD.

Cite This Article

APA
Anderson S, Meints K. (2016). Brief Report: The Effects of Equine-Assisted Activities on the Social Functioning in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord, 46(10), 3344-3352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2869-3

Publication

Journal of autism and developmental disorders
ISSN: 1573-3432
NlmUniqueID: 7904301
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 46
Issue: 10
Pages: 3344-3352

Researcher Affiliations

Anderson, Sophie
  • School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK.
Meints, Kerstin
  • School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK. kmeints@lincoln.ac.uk.

MeSH Terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological / physiology
  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / therapy
  • Child
  • Child Behavior / physiology
  • Child Behavior / psychology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Communication
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy / methods
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Social Adjustment
  • Socialization
  • Treatment Outcome

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethical Approval All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or National Research Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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