Parental perceptions of the psychosocial outcomes of equine-assisted activities and therapies for children with autism spectrum disorder in Japan: a phenomenological study.
Abstract: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience challenges in social communication, behavioral regulation, and daily life adaptation. Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAATs) have been implemented as complementary approaches to support psychosocial development. However, little is known about the experiences of parents in Japan whose children participate in EAATs. Unassigned: The study aims to qualitatively explore how parents in Japan perceive the psychosocial outcomes of EAATs for their children with ASD. By focusing on parental perspectives, this study seeks to clarify how EAATs may contribute to the well-being of both children and their families, and to inform the development of supportive therapeutic environments. Unassigned: This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten parents whose children with ASD had participated in EAATs for a minimum of six months. Thematic analysis was guided by Colaizzi's method. Unassigned: Four primary developmental stages emerged from the analysis of children's experiences: (1) Learning physical and mental harmony, (2) Exploring interests and strengthening bonds with oneself and others, (3) Inspiring independence and interaction, and (4) Building resilience and communication skills. Furthermore, parents reported three overarching outcomes from their own involvement: (1) Parental well-being and engagement through horseback riding, (2) Parental joy and recognition of their child's growth, and (3) Fostering Family Connection and parent-to-parent interaction. Participant narratives illustrated these themes vividly, highlighting specific examples of behavioral and emotional change. Unassigned: EAATs were perceived by parents as fostering not only the psychosocial growth of children with ASD but also enhancing parental well-being and family cohesion. To support children's psychosocial development and promote the health and well-being of their parents, nurses could play a distinctive role by observing both psychological and physical changes, monitoring how these influence daily functioning and interpersonal relationships, and supporting parents in interpreting their child's developmental progress.
Publication Date: 2025-11-19 PubMed ID: 41261078PubMed Central: PMC12636537DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2025.2585638Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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 explores how parents in Japan perceive the psychosocial benefits of equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAATs) for their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- It aims to understand both the children’s developmental progress and the impact on parental well-being and family connections through qualitative interviews.
Background and Purpose
- Children with ASD commonly face difficulties with social communication, behavior regulation, and adapting to daily life.
- EAATs, which involve therapeutic interactions with horses, have been used worldwide as complementary treatment approaches to support psychosocial growth in children with ASD.
- Despite their increasing use, little research has focused on Japanese parents’ experiences and perceptions regarding their children’s participation in EAATs.
- The study’s main goal was to qualitatively explore these parental perceptions to better understand EAAT benefits and inform therapeutic practices.
- It also sought to reveal how EAATs might support not just children but their families as a whole.
Methodology
- The researchers adopted a phenomenological qualitative design, emphasizing the lived experiences of participants.
- Ten parents of children diagnosed with ASD who had engaged in EAATs for at least six months were selected for semi-structured interviews.
- These interviews allowed parents to share detailed narratives about their children’s progress and family experiences related to EAAT participation.
- The analysis used Colaizzi’s method, a rigorous thematic approach to extracting and validating core themes from qualitative data.
Findings: Children’s Developmental Stages
- Four key stages characterized the psychosocial experiences of children engaged in EAATs:
- 1. Learning physical and mental harmony: Children developed a sense of balance and self-regulation through interaction with horses.
- 2. Exploring interests and strengthening bonds: Children showed increased curiosity and formed stronger emotional connections with themselves and others.
- 3. Inspiring independence and interaction: Participation encouraged autonomy and enhanced social interactions.
- 4. Building resilience and communication skills: Children became more emotionally resilient and better able to communicate.
Findings: Parental Experiences and Outcomes
- Parents described three overarching positive outcomes connected to their involvement in EAATs:
- 1. Parental well-being and engagement: Engaging with horseback riding improved parents’ mental and physical well-being.
- 2. Joy and recognition of child’s growth: Parents experienced pride and happiness by witnessing behavioral and emotional improvements in their children.
- 3. Fostering family connection and parent-to-parent interaction: The program facilitated family bonding and created opportunities for parents to connect and support each other.
- These narratives highlighted concrete examples where children exhibited meaningful psychosocial changes observable in everyday life.
Implications and Recommendations
- EAATs appear to provide multifaceted psychosocial benefits extending beyond children to enhance parental well-being and strengthen family relationships.
- The findings emphasize the importance of viewing therapeutic interventions as family-centered, not only child-centered.
- Nurses and healthcare providers are encouraged to monitor both psychological and physical changes in children during EAATs, understanding these effects within the scope of daily functioning and interpersonal dynamics.
- Such professionals could serve a key role by supporting parents’ interpretation of developmental progress and advising on maintaining holistic family health.
- Further research and program development might focus on integrating family support aspects into EAAT delivery models, tailoring them to cultural contexts such as Japan.
Cite This Article
APA
Kawamura N, Sakamoto M, Hashimoto C, Ozeki Y, Machida K.
(2025).
Parental perceptions of the psychosocial outcomes of equine-assisted activities and therapies for children with autism spectrum disorder in Japan: a phenomenological study.
Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being, 20(1), 2585638.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2585638 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Nursing, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan.
- School of Nursing, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan.
- School of Nursing, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan.
- School of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan.
- Sapporo City University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Humans
- Autism Spectrum Disorder / therapy
- Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology
- Japan
- Equine-Assisted Therapy
- Parents / psychology
- Male
- Female
- Child
- Qualitative Research
- Horses
- Animals
- Adult
- Child, Preschool
- Communication
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.
References
This article includes 31 references
- American Hippotherapy Association . (2017). Statements of best practice for the use of hippotherapy by occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals (pp. 12–14). American Hippotherapy Association.
- American Psychiatric Association . (2022). . American Psychiatric Association.
- Carlsson, I. M., Bräutigam Ewe, M., & Jormfeldt, H. (2024). Building up bit by bit, parent’s experiences of equine–assisted intervention among children and adolescents with mental illness: A grounded theory study. , 19(1), 2354945. 10.1080/17482631.2024.2354945n
- Cerquozzi, C., Cerquozzi, E., Darragh, A., & Miller-Kuhaneck, H. (2007). An exploratory survey of occupational therapists' role in hippotherapy. , 30(3), 1–4.
- Colaizzi, P. F. (1978). Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. In Valle R., & King M. (Eds.), (pp. 48–71). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Fletcher, D., & Sarkar, M. (2013). Psychological resilience: A review and critique of definitions, concepts, and theory. , 18(1), 12–23. 10.1027/1016-9040/a000124
- Gabriels, R. L., Pan, Z., Guérin, N. A., Dechant, B., & Mesibov, G. (2018). Long- term effect of therapeutic horseback riding in youth with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized trial. , 5, 156. 10.3389/fvets.2018.00156n
- Gabriels, R. L., Pan, Z., Dechant, B., Agnew, J. A., Brim, N., & Mesibov, G. (2015). Randomized controlled trial of therapeutic horseback riding in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. , 54(7), 541–549.n
- Gabrielsson, S., Tuvesson, H., Wiklund Gustin, L., & Jormfeldt, H. (2020). Positioning psychiatric and mental health nursing as a transformative force in health care. , 41(11), 976–984. 10.1080/01612840.2020.1756009n
- Ishii, K., Kobayashi, K., Hasegawa, T., & Ohzeki, K. (2017). [Consciousness change of the staff concerned with the horseback riding activity of the developmental disorder child by the intervention of the occupational therapist.] (Sagyou ryouhoushi no kainyuu ni yoru hattatsu syougai ji no Jyouba katsudou ni kakawaru syokuin noishiki oyobi koudou no henka). , 13, 97–105. In Japanese.
- Kalmbach, D., Wood, W., & Peters, B. C. (2020). Parental perspectives of occupational therapy in an equine environment for children with autism spectrum disorder. , 34(3), 230–252. 10.1080/07380577.2020.1751903n
- Kara, K., Kaya Kara, O., Sutcu, G., & Tonak, H. A. (2024). The relationship between fatigue and quality of life in the Turkish mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. , 55(7), 2696–2705. 10.1007/s10803-024-06398-zn
- Kawamura, N., Sakamoto, M., & Machida, K. (2024). Effects and nursing considerations for equine-assisted activities and therapies for children with autism spectrum disorders: A literature review. , 7(1), 1–18.
- Kawamura, N, Iwamoto, Y, Matsunaga, T, & Kugimiya, S. [Changes in the behavior of children with developmental disabilities in a horseback riding program: Development and evaluation using a horseback riding behavior observation list.], (Jyouba puroguramu ni okeru hattatsu syougai wo motsu kodomo no koudou no henka: jyouba koudou kansatsu risuto no sakusei to sore wo mochiita hyouka kara) Bulletin of the Center for Educational Development (Vol. 7, pp. 45–52). Oita University.
- Kojović, N., Ben, L., Martina, H., & Marie Schaer, F. (2019). Sensory processing issues and their association with social difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorders. , 8(10), 1508. 10.3390/jcm8101508n
- Kugimiya, S. (2016). . Medical Corporation Kensei Kai Association Hakuai Hospital. Oita. In Japanese.
- Llambias, C., Magill-Evans, J., Smith, V., & Warren, S. (2016). Equine-assisted occupational therapy: Increasing engagement for children with autism spectrum disorder. , 70(6), 7006220040p1–7006220040p9. 10.5014/ajot.2016.020701
- Maslow, A. H. (1954). (pp. 59–75). New York: Harper & Row.
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. (. 2022, Dec. 13). [The survey results regarding students who require special educational support and are enrolled in regular classrooms] (tsuujou no gakkyuu ni zaiseki suru tokubetu na kyouiku teki sienn wo hituyou to suru zidou seito ni kannsuru tyousa kekka ni tuite). In Japanese. https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20230524-mext-tokubetu01-000026255_01.pdf
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. (. 2022, Dec. 14). [The current status of child development support and after- school day services] (zidou hattatu sienn hou kago tou deisa- bisu no gennjou nado ni tuite). In Japanese.nhttps://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12401000/001023067.pdf
- Miwa, T. H., Keino, T., & Keino, H. (2015). The therapeutic effects of horseback riding for an autistic child and his skill acquisition process: A case report on a boy. , 24(3), 262–268. In Japanese.
- Peters, B., Wood, W., Hepburn, S., & Moody, E. (2021). Preliminary efficacy of occupational therapy in an equine environment for youth with autism spectrum disorder. , 52, 4114–4128. 10.1007/s10803-021-05278-0n
- Punzo, K., Skoglund, M., Carlsson, I.-M., & Jormfeldt, H. (2022). Experiences of an equine-assisted therapy intervention among children and adolescents with mental illness in Sweden ‒ a nursing perspective. , 43(12), 1080–1092. 10.1080/01612840.2022.2126571n
- Sumiya, M., & Senju, A. (2023). Influence of friendship on loneliness among adolescents with autism spectrum disorders in Japan. , 55, 1530–1536. 10.1007/s10803-023-05958-zn
- Taguchi, S. (2014). (pp. 11–27). Tokyo, Japan: Chikuma Shobo.
- Takisaka, S. (2011). [Animal- assisted therapy and university education with horses as partners.] (Uma wo partner to shita doubutsu kaizai ryouhou to Daigaku kyuiku). Animal-Husbandry, 65(1), 9–14. In Japanese.
- Tan, V. X.-L., & Simmonds, J. G. (2018). Parent perceptions of psychosocial outcomes of equine-assisted interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder. , 48(3), 759–769. 10.1007/s10803-017-3310-0n
- Umbarger, G. T. (2007). State of the evidence regarding complementary and alternative medical treatments for autism spectrum disorders. , 42(4), 437–447.
- Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). (pp. 84–91). Harvard University Press.
- Wood, W.nOptimal terminology for services in the United States that incorporate horses to benefit people: A consensus document. , 27(1), 88–95.
- Zhao, M., Chen, S., You, Y., Wang, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2021). Effects of a therapeutic horseback riding program on social interaction and communication in children with autism. , 18(5), 2656–2667. 10.3390/ijerph18052656n
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
