bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of adaptive devices on horses, assisting persons, and riders with cerebral palsy in a therapeutic riding program
Authors: Kaiser Lana , Edick Mathew J. , Buckler Katherine Smith , Heleski Camie , Gorbis Sherman , DePue Bonnie , Lewis Liz , Kaiser LeeAnn J. 
Published: October 2022

Hypothesis: The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of three different adaptive devices used to facilitate therapeutic horseback riding for riders with cerebral palsy (CP), the horses, and the assisting persons. The study hypothesis was that there is no difference in clinical benefit to the rider; stress or physical saddle pressure to the horse; or the level of exertion required from assisting persons when using any of the three adaptive devices. Population: Individuals with varying disability due to cerebral palsy who participated in a therapeutic horseback riding program at a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) Premier Accredited Center.
Intervention: Therapeutic horseback riding sessions using one of three adaptive devices. Comparators: Two commonly used adaptive devices (English saddle and bareback pad with backrider), and one recently developed, less-used device (Independence saddle). Outcomes: Clinical benefit for the individual with Cerebral Palsy was evaluated using an osteopathic musculoskeletal exam score. Equine stress was evaluated using a horse stress behavior ethogram. Physical pressure under the saddle of the horse was evaluated using a
Pliance Saddle pad under each adaptive device. Required level of exertion by assisting persons was measured using an assistant exertion score.
Conclusion: Therapeutic riding using an English saddle, a backriding pad with backrider, or an Independence saddle, by individuals with various degrees of disability, does not cause excessive stress or result in excessive pressure to the horse. Using one assistive device over another also does not appear to change the likelihood of clinical benefit to the rider. However, exertion scores for assisting persons were lower when the Independence saddle was used compared to the English saddle or backriding pad. Adaptive devices that allow an individual with CP to improve function, ride more independently, provide some respite for the side walker and do not cause undue stress or frustration to the horse would be a great addition to the therapeutic regimen. Based on the results of this study, the Independence saddle is a viable alternative to the English saddle or the backriding pad for riders that would otherwise need extensive assisting person support in a therapeutic riding program.
Behavioral and Physiological Effects of Equine-assisted Early Intervention for Mother- Child Dyads with Insecure Attachment
Authors: Hebesberger Denise V. , Beetz Andrea , Kotrschal Kurt 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Animals, including horses may be valuable partners in many activities, pedagogy and therapy. Contact between humans and animals can facilitate an oxytocin secretion that, as a consequence, may alleviates stress-responses, increases social orientation and that supports attachment and caregiving. These mechanisms can be utilized in animal-assisted therapy, for example, to enhance trust between client and therapist and to help increase attachment security in clients with insecure attachment. In this study we compared the effects of an equine-assisted intervention with a conventional play-based intervention for mother-child dyads with insecure attachment, insecure caregiving and child dysregulation. Twenty mother-child dyads (with infants 12-24 months of age), with at least one part of the dyad showing an insecure attachment, were randomly assigned to eight weekly sessions of either equine-assisted or play-based intervention. Effects on mothers’ caregiving behavior and physiology and on the relationship between clients and therapists were assessed via behavior coding, salivary cortisol, heart rate and heart rate variability measures. Mothers and their infants in the equine-assisted intervention had more body contact with each other (p ≤ 0.001), a trend toward more vocal exchange (p = 0.083), and mothers showed a higher sympathetic activation, indicated by a higher heart rate (p = 0.003). In the play-based intervention, mothers showed greater parasympathetic activation than in the horse group, indicated by higher heart rate variability (p = 0.004) as well as enhanced rapport between mothers and the therapist (p = 0.016). We conclude that the main effect of the horse-assisted method was increasing positive arousal by the mother and child doing something exciting together, thus triggering attentiveness towards the child, indicated by higher rates of caregiving behavior, such as proximity and vocal contact. In contrast, the play-based intervention promoted a relaxed environment which allowed the therapists and mothers to engage more with each other. Hence, depending on intervention goals, a combination of equine-assisted and play-based interventions might be an optimal approach.
Animal-Assisted Activities for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Parent Insights
Authors: Buck Page Walker , Lavery Angela 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
This exploratory study was designed to investigate parental perceptions of animal-assisted activities for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In-depth interviews with 10 families provided insight into the possible mechanisms by which human-animal interactions impact socioemotional behaviors for children ASD. Parents suggested that interactions with animals are qualitatively different than interactions with humans allowing for enhanced communication and connection through reductions in anxiety and frustration. Bearing witness to these human-animal interactions and their concomitant impact on human-human interactions provided parents with feelings of happiness, optimism and hope.
Rationalizing the Many Uses of Animals: Application of the 4N Justifications Beyond Meat
Authors: Piazza Jared , Cooper Lucy , Slater-Johnson Shannon 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Past research has uncovered four common justifications for using animals as food — the 4Ns — that eating meat is
Natural, Normal, Necessary,
and
Nice.
The current research investigated the extent to which the 4Ns might apply more generally to other animal uses. Two studies examined the moral justifications people spontaneously offered for various animal uses, including household products, clothing, culling, and horse racing (Study1), and in zoos, TV/film, as pets, and for medical testing (Study 2). Participants offered reasons for why it is okay to use animals and the responses were coded by independent raters. The 4N categories accounted for the majority of justifications across most uses. There was great variability in justification categories offered for each use, and some uses generated justification categories not covered within the 4N scheme, including humane treatment, prioritization of human lives, and sustainability arguments. This research provides a large-scope investigation of animal use justifications that moves beyond meat consumption.
The Effects of Kinship, Reciprocity, and Conscious Deliberation on the Level of Concern for Non-Humans: How Our Psychology Affects Levels of Concern for Non-Humans
Authors: Thompson Barton , Quinter Cindy 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAs hunter-gatherers, it is unlikely that humans evolved psychological tendencies to extend high levels of concern for predator or prey species. Our coalitional psychology, which evolved to regulate human interactions with other humans, might be the basis for the extension of ethical concerns to non-humans. This research identified three variables (kinship, reciprocity, and conscious deliberation) that affect our altruistic tendencies toward humans and tested them to see if they also affected our concern toward non-humans. Using a sample of 119 respondents from participants at animal auctions, the researchers compared levels of concern to: perceived the animals as family; received benefits from the animals; and/or consciously contemplated appropriate levels of concern. The data supported the hypotheses that concerns rise when animals are re-categorized as kin and/or when individuals have previously considered appropriate levels of concern, but it did not support the hypothesized connection between concern and reciprocity.
Human Helping of Animals: What Motivates It?
Authors: Highfill Lauren E. , Davis Mark H. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
While considerable research has been carried out to understand helping offered to other humans, relatively little research has focused specifically on the motivations underlying helping for animals. It is possible that the social psychological helping literature may help shed light on the question of human-animal helping, and may provide some ways to investigate this issue. To evaluate this possibility, we provided participants with a hypothetical situation involving an animal in need of help. Participants were asked to imagine that the situation is happening to them, and then to indicate the likelihood that they would provide the needed help. They were also asked to report on the thoughts and feelings that they would experience in that situation. Our results indicated that the same variables that have been used successfully in understanding the motivations underlying the help we offer to fellow humans (obligation, oneness, empathic concern) also successfully predict helping offered to non-humans. Also consistent with the social psychological research on helping motivations, both egoistic and altruistic motives appear to play a role in the helping decisions regarding animals. Thus, initial evidence suggests that this technique may be a valid way of examining the motivations underlying the helping that humans offer to animals.
Animal-assisted interventions in Canada: AAI as potential field guide in/to alterity relations
Authors: Hanrahan Cassandra , Boulton Amberlee 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Ideas about non-human animals within animal-assisted interventions (AAI) and the general public are changing and evolving. There is, however, a dearth of empirical investigation on those changes in the AAI field. Drawing from four key findings of a qualitative Nova Scotia study that investigated AAI from the perspectives of AAI practitioners in a variety of settings, this paper examines the inter- and intra- relational dynamics of AAI in a Canadian province through 36 semi-structured interviews and four related thematic findings that emerged as illuminating trends. These themes form the basis of this paper: 1) AAI Entry point is personally motivated and AAI dyads are highly relational and intuitive; 2) AAI practitioner initiative is central to continuance and development; 3) AAI theoretical framework(s), competencies, ethics, and standards of practice are informally eclectic; and 4) Attitudes towards animals involve limited ideas about justice. An overarching purpose of this analysis was to examine the changing/evolving views of companion animals from tools/property to sentient partners within AAI practitioner perspectives and what this looks like in practice. Participants discussed entry points into AAI as personally motivated within highly relational human-animal AAI dyads. While the researchers determined practitioner initiative as crucial to AAI continuance and development, they also ask what this can tell us about how the field of AAI might contribute to or limit a critical reconceptualization of humanity; about understandings and experiences of individual and collective wellbeing within an interconnected web of life. Using a posthumanist theoretical lens and a constructivist approach to knowledge making about animal-assisted intervention and human animal interaction, this paper provides a substantial departure from the usual positivist epistemological lens used in animal assisted intervention and human animal interaction (AAI -HAI) scholarship and offers the potential to transform AAI/HAI scholarship. Exploring key findings through the emergent overarching theme of
relationality,
this paper aims to strengthen AAI services through a critical and creative discussion of practitioner motivations and resolve; experiences and perceived outcomes of working with and drawing inspiration from animal partners for clients and providers alike; and conceptions/misconceptions of animal justice. The broader changes in how interrelationships between people, other animals, and the environment are being conceptualized and understood must be integrated into the evolving perspectives of AAI practitioners. The authors respond with prescient optimism to the strengths and challenges of AAI in a time of transgression of planetary boundaries involving global pandemics, climate change/injustice, environmental degradation.
Fostering Rescued Dogs: An Exploratory Study of the Experiences of Foster Care Providers
Authors: Daily Tamara A. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Animals in the care of shelters and rescues frequently have health and behavioral challenges that must be addressed before they can be adopted. Volunteer foster providers perform an important service by bringing vulnerable animals into their homes to address their needs therefore making them better prepared for successful adoption. Despite their critical role in animal rescue, the experiences of volunteer foster providers have not been examined systematically. Given the difficulty recruiting and retaining these volunteers and the potential for them to experience negative outcomes such as compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress caused by performing care work with rescued animals, such research is necessary. Current and former foster providers (N = 85) completed an online survey of their perceptions of the positives and negatives of the experience and measures of psychological outcomes of care work. The findings show that fostering rescued dogs comes with a mix of positive and negative experiences. Further, the findings suggest the importance for rescues of being aware of the risk factors associated with compassion fatigue and protective factors predicting compassion satisfaction.
The Effects of an Online-Guided, At-Home Dog Training Session on Owner Anxiety, Mood, and General Self-Efficacy During COVID-19
Authors: Napier Andrew D. , Bennett Pauleen C. , Howell Tiffani J. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Many studies have now demonstrated the positive effects on humans from brief, unstructured interactions with dogs, including improved mood and reduced anxiety. Few studies, though, have explored the psychological impact when humans take part in more structured obedience training with the dog. This study examined the effects of owners taking part in a single session of online-guided training with their own dog in their own home during COVID-19 lockdowns. This group was compared to a similar group having an unstructured play session with their dog. Dog-owner relationship quality was also measured to investigate whether this influenced any observed changes to the outcome variables. Participants (N = 83) were assigned to either the training group, involving 10-minutes of basic obedience training, or a play group, involving 10-minutes of unstructured play. Before the sessions, participants in each group watched videos demonstrating the interaction and then completed the Dog Owner Relationship Scale (DORS) to measure owner-dog relationship quality. Before and immediately after the session, they completed the 6-item version of the state scale of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSE). A mixed between-within multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted with follow-up Bonferroni-corrected univariate analysis of variance, to measure differences in the outcomes between groups over time. Results indicated no significant differences between groups, but revealed a significant, large effect on scores for both groups on all measures over time. Multiple regression, analysing interaction effects between the outcome measures and the DORS, found no significant effects, indicating dog-owner relationship did not moderate the observed improvements over time. Results from this preliminary study suggest that a brief, single-session, online-guided interaction with a dog – whether training or playing with them – can confer short-term, psychological benefits for the owners.
Pets and a Pandemic: An Exploratory Mixed Method Analysis of How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Dogs, Cats, and Owners
Authors: Bolstad Courtney J. , Edwards Grayson E. , Gardner Allison , Nadorff Michael R. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted dogs, cats, and interactions between these pets and their owners. Participants included 102 dog and/or cat owners residing primarily in the United States. Participants completed an online questionnaire between late April to late May 2020. Analyses included

t

-tests comparing retrospective estimates of pre-pandemic functioning and functioning during the pandemic, and qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze participants’ responses to three open-ended questions. Quantitative analyses found that pets and owners spent significantly more time together, with increases in physical contact between owners and pets, exercise with dogs, and engagement in dog-related activities. No significant changes were found regarding owners’ percentage of pet care responsibility, attachment to their pets, pleasantness derived from pet-related activities, or upset feelings toward their pets when comparing pre-pandemic and during pandemic scores. Five themes arose from the thematic analysis: Social/Attachment (i.e., changes to owner-pet, pet-pet, and owner-owner relationships), Physical (i.e., increases in owners’ physical contact and proximity with pets, physical benefits to pets and owners), Psychological (i.e., changes in owners’ and pets’ behavior and emotionality), Safety/Well-Being (i.e., health concerns regarding owners and pets), and Responsibilities/Routines (i.e., changes in owners’ and pets’ daily routines, changes in owners’ responsibilities and productivity). These findings provide valuable insight into how dogs, cats, owners, and interactions between these pets and owners were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as considerations for animal welfare in the wake of the pandemic. Additionally, the study generated many hypotheses pertaining to how and why these changes occurred, providing a foundation for additional research in this area.
Predictors of Opting for Advanced Medical Care versus Euthanasia for Companion Animals with Severe Cardiac Disease
Authors: Siess Samantha , Kramer George A. , Ozer Dar , Gaudette Nikki , Williams Brienne , Antal Brittany , Moyer Anne 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
This study examined predictors of opting for advanced medical care versus euthanasia for a critically ill companion animal. These included holding an optimistic bias for poor prognostic information, level of attachment to one’s companion animal, and satisfaction with one’s veterinarian. Eighty owners of companion animals with a diagnosis of a severe cardiac disease were asked to indicate what they believed their companion animal’s chance of survival and quality of life would be if they opted for intensive treatment. Participants showed an optimistic bias in their interpretation of the chance of survival (but not quality of life) of a companion animal with more severe prognoses, suggesting that this may serve as a self-protective strategy in the face of losing a beloved companion animal. Client satisfaction with communication and with the cost of care, but not attachment to one’s companion animal, significantly increased the likelihood of approving the recommended course of hospitalization and intensive treatment. This is of particular importance in that, of those who did not approve the recommended treatment, the majority elected to take their companion animals home against medical advice, rather than opt for humane euthanasia, this likely resulted in undue suffering and an uncomfortable death. These findings support the need for training in communication in veterinary schools.
The influence of dogs’ presence on children’s performance on cognitive tests: Implications for clinical practice.
Authors: Alfrey Abigail 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Evidence suggests that cognitive assessments can evoke feelings of stress for some children, potentially inhibiting cognitive performance and undermining the validity of results. Dogs have been found to be an unobtrusive form of social support for children in other settings, potentially offering a solution to this problem. The aim of this paper was to critically review the literature to explore what effect, if any, dogs may have on children’s performance on cognitive tests, and consider implications for clinical practice. To do so, five databases were systematically searched and returns were screened for eligibility. Studies were collectively described and then appraised using a common appraisal framework. Nine studies exploring the relationship between dogs and cognitive functioning in children (≤18 years) were identified in the literature search. All used an experimental methodology and were of good to fair quality. Together, results indicated that the presence of a dog could reduce stress and enhance cognitive performance across various domains, lending experimental evidence to support the idea that dogs may support children undergoing cognitive assessments. Further trials are now required to explore the generalizability of these associations to clinical settings and implications for test validity. Further implications for policy and practice are discussed.
The Characteristics and Motivations of Human Volunteers of Animal-Assisted Interventions
Authors: Syrnyk Corinne , McArthur Alisa 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
This study examined the characteristics and motivations of people who volunteer in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) with their dog. Surveys of volunteer motivation, prosocial attitudes, altruism, empathy, personality, and the Pet Attachment Questionnaire were conducted, and demographic data were collected from AAI volunteers (AAIVs). For comparison purposes, these measures were also given to a group of people who volunteer with animals, but not in an AAI capacity (non-AAIVs). This study found both groups to be overwhelmingly female (>90%) with university-level educations. Motivated by the value of helping others, AAIVs scored higher than non-AAIVs on scales of empathy, prosocial behaviour, and altruism. AAIVs’ personality traits were primarily agreeable and less neurotic, and they scored higher and lower, respectively, on these traits compared to non-AAIVs. For the AAIVs only, the traits of agreeableness and extraversion uniquely predicted a secure (less anxious) pet attachment. However, for non-AAIVs, conscientiousness was the only dimension that predicted a secure attachment. The discussion considers the importance of empathy, a commitment to helping, and altruism as defining characteristics of AAIVs. The relationship between personality and attachment is also discussed.