Equine assisted services impact on social skills in autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis.

The research article focuses on the benefits of equine assisted services (EAS) on the social skills of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The paper presents a meta-analysis showing a significant positive effect of EAS on several social skills in ASD.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

• The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of equine assisted services (EAS) on the social skills of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This was conducted through a meta-analysis of five selected randomized controlled trials involving a total of 240 participants.
• The researchers utilized various reputable databases, including Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, to gather data on post-intervention social responsiveness scale (SRS) scores. The means and standard deviations of these scores were used in the analysis.

Findings of the Study

• The findings revealed a significant positive impact of EAS on the total SRS score, social communication and social cognition. These are vital areas of social interaction that are often challenging for individuals with ASD.
• Furthermore, the results showed a trend towards a significant effect of EAS on social awareness and social motivation—two key components contributing to successful social interaction.
• However, the study did not detect a significant difference in the improvement of autistic mannerisms, implying that EAS might not have a direct impact on this particular characteristic of ASD.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• This meta-analysis provides evidence supporting the beneficial impacts of EAS on various social skills for individuals with ASD. This potential alternative therapy could be considered by healthcare professionals and families in treating and managing ASD.
• The authors concluded that further research is necessary to complement these findings and to expand the knowledge within this field. Particularly, more randomized controlled trials concerning EAS treatments for ASD are recommended to confirm their efficacy and broaden the scope of their potential benefits.