Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Intervention in Institutionalized Children: Case Studies.
Abstract: A significant number of institutionalized children have behavior problems. Socio-emotional skills are fundamental for their adaptation and success throughout life and are usually weakened in this population. Equine-assisted services (EAS) are a form of therapeutic mediation that facilitates and requires the practitioner's participation, contributing to the promotion of various psychomotor and socio-emotional dimensions. This study was developed during 17 sessions of EAS with a psychomotor intervention, which took place individually and weekly and lasted approximately 45 min, with three institutionalized children. A quantitative and qualitative assessment was carried out before and after the intervention to study the effects of an EAS intervention on socio-emotional competencies in the three institutionalized children. There was an improvement in skills, with an impact on intrapersonal skills and marked improvement in self-regulation and self-control, in addition to an improvement in the intentionality of movement and adequacy of gesture to the context. This type of intervention underlies a renewed educational and therapeutic approach, contributing to mental health promotion in this population.
Publication Date: 2023-02-06 PubMed ID: 36833542PubMed Central: PMC9956268DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042846Google 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 studied the effects of horse-assisted therapy sessions on the socio-emotional skills of children living in institutions, and found that these sessions improved their self-regulation, self-control, and other related skills.
Methodology
- The research was carried out over 17 individual sessions of Equine-assisted services (EAS) with a psychomotor intervention, each session lasting approximately 45 minutes.
- The participants included three children who were residents in an institution.
- A quantitative and qualitative assessment was used to evaluate the participants before the beginning and at the end of the EAS intervention.
Results and Findings
- The study showed an improvement in the socio-emotional skills of the children after the EAS intervention.
- There was a noted improvement specifically in intrapersonal skills, such as self-regulation and self-control. This means that the participants were better able to manage their behaviors and emotions.
- Apart from this, there was also an improvement in the participants’ intentionality of movement and the appropriateness of their gestures in different contexts.
Implications and Conclusion
- The findings of this study provide support for the use of EAS as a therapeutic method for improving socio-emotional competence in institutionalized children.
- This intervention represents a new approach in educational and therapeutic interventions, and contributes to promoting mental health in the studied population.
Cite This Article
APA
Matias AR, Santos GD, Almeida N.
(2023).
Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Intervention in Institutionalized Children: Case Studies.
Int J Environ Res Public Health, 20(4), 2846.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042846 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal.
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade de Évora, 7000 Évora, Portugal.
- Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal.
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade de Évora, 7000 Évora, Portugal.
- Psychomotor Therapist at T-Terapias, 2500 Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Humans
- Child
- Child, Institutionalized
- Emotions
- Health Promotion
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Misevičė M, Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė L, Lesinskienė S. Helping Institutionalised Children through a Trusting Relationship-Findings from a One-Year Psychosocial Intervention Programme. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024 Jul 13;14(7).
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