A Systematic Review of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Psychosocial Outcomes in People with Intellectual Disability

Research in Developmental Disabilities
Sarah Maber-AleksandrowiczAngela Hassiotis

Abstract

The aim of the study was to review the literature on animal assisted therapy (AAT) in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) measuring psychosocial outcomes (behavioural, social, cognitive and emotional). Quantitative studies were found through a systematic search that identified studies using AAT in people with ID and measuring psychosocial outcomes (behavioural, cognitive, emotional and social). The quality of studies was assessed using a standardised tool and rated as strong, moderate or weak. Only published articles from peer-reviewed journals were included. No language or age restrictions were applied. Over half of the included studies were identified outside standard database searches (e.g. hand searching reference lists from included articles, references from AAT websites and using Google Scholar and a Grey Literature Database). Ten studies were included in the final review; two were rated as moderate quality and eight were rated as weak quality. Overall there was a positive improvement reported from studies for all psychosocial outcomes (with some cognitive, behavioural, social, emotional components reaching statistical significance p ≤ 0.01). Despite having no age restrictions, the included studies had participants...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 26, 2019·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Nai Ming LaiFiona Stanaway
Jul 12, 2017·BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine·Martina LundqvistLars-Åke Levin
Mar 21, 2017·Home Health Care Services Quarterly·Keith A AndersonGina Siffri
Jul 5, 2017·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Laura ContalbrigoFelice Alfonso Nava
May 1, 2020·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Antonio SantanielloLucia Francesca Menna
Sep 19, 2019·Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities : JARID·Natalie AgaWouter Vanderplasschen
Jul 16, 2020·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Joaquin FuentesUNKNOWN (ESCAP ASD Working Party)
May 26, 2018·Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR·P C M HamersH Hermans
Nov 12, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Health Research·Tracey A OverbeyKristi S Lekies

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