bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Testing the Psychometric Properties of the Pet Attachment and Life Impact Scale (PALS) Among a Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults
Authors: Tomlinson Camie A. , Matijczak Angela , Pittman Sarah K. , Pham An , McDonald Shelby E. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

There has been increased research attention on the benefits associated with attachment bonds between humans and their companion animals, such as for human physical health, mental health, and overall quality of life. However, there is a lack of human-animal attachment measures that have been psychometrically evaluated across diverse samples. The current study addressed this gap by testing the psychometric properties of the Pet Attachment and Life Impact Scale (PALS). Our sample included 154 sexual and gender minority emerging adults who had lived with a dog and/or cat in the past year and responded to the PALS regarding a dog or cat (
M
age = 19.34 years,
SDage
= 1.12 years; 37% racial/ethnic minority; 50% gender minority; 98.7% sexual minority). We collapsed the lowest three response options due to low endorsement; to conduct invariance testing, items 11, 20, 28, and 37 were deleted due to high correlations between items. Confirmatory factor analyses found that a modified three-factor model, excluding the Negative Impact items, fit our data best. We found support for strong measurement invariance across gender modality, racial/ethnic majority vs. minoritized groups, participation prior to or after the COVID-19 pandemic onset, and pet type groups. All three PALS factors (Love, Regulation, Personal Growth) were correlated with human social support from friends, and the Love factor was positively associated with emotional comfort from pets, providing evidence of construct validity. Given the potential role of attachment bonds with companion animals in promoting human health and wellbeing, future research should continue to evaluate the psychometric properties of the PALS and measurement equivalence across a broader range of demographic groups to ensure meaningful interpretation of pet attachment scores.
Testing the moderating role of victimization and microaggressions on the relationship between human-animal interaction and psychological adjustment among LGBTQ+ emerging adults
Authors: Tomlinson Camie A. , Murphy Jennifer L. , Williams Joanne M. , Hawkins Roxanne D. , Matijczak Angela , Applebaum Jennifer W. , McDonald Shelby E. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Human-animal interaction (HAI) is associated with positive psychological adjustment. Although these benefits are hypothesized to be most pronounced for individuals who experience adversity and compromised social relationships, such as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual/gender minority identities) individuals, this hypothesis has not been tested. The current, cross-sectional study examined whether the strength of the relationship between emotional comfort from companion animals and self-esteem and personal hardiness varies as a function of exposure to LGBTQ+ interpersonal stressors (i.e., victimization, microaggressions). Our sample included 155 LGBTQ+ emerging adults who lived with a dog and/or cat in the past year (Mage = 19.34 years,
SD
= 1.12 years). To test the hypothesis, we conducted simple and multiple moderation analyses. We found evidence that the magnitude of the association between comfort from companion animals and personal hardiness was greater for those who experienced high levels of interpersonal microaggressions. Similarly, victimization moderated the relation between comfort from companion animals and self-esteem. Including victimization and interpersonal microaggressions in the same model resulted in only one significant interaction effect: the relation between comfort from companion animals and self-esteem was positive at high levels of victimization and negative at low levels of victimization. Our results suggest that among LGBTQ+ emerging adults, the benefits of HAI on self-esteem were only present when high levels of victimization were reported. Future research should continue to examine factors that may influence the benefits and risks associated with HAI to identify for whom and under what circumstances HAI is beneficial.
Social Interaction during Dog and Robot Group Sessions for Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: the Handler Effect.
Authors: Schuurmans Lonneke GJA , Noback Inge , MGA Schols Jos , Enders-Slegers Marie-Jose 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
As part of an 8-week intervention study in Dutch nursing homes, we used video-analysis to observe the interaction of psychogeriatric participants with either the handler, the stimulus (dog or robot) or other clients during weekly dog, robot (RAI, robot assisted interventions) and control (human facilitator only) group sessions. Additionally, we measured the initiative of the handler to engage participants. Several baseline characteristics, including dementia severity, neuropsychiatric symptoms and medication usage, were recorded as possible confounders.
Participant-handler interaction is increased in all three groups compared to a baseline of no interaction, while inter-client interaction is not. In the dog group participant-handler interaction scores are similar to participant-dog interaction scores, while in the robot group participant-handler interaction scores are significantly lower than participant-robot interaction scores. Handler initiative does not differ between the three groups.
Our results suggest that a handler effect of AAI on social interaction in dementia care does exist and we hypothesize this effect is linked to the required fully embodied, mutual attunement between dog and handler and between dog-handler team and participants. This embodied interaction distinguishes AAI from RAI and when the required attunement is met, AAI can significantly increase the social interaction of people with dementia.
A Transdisciplinary Perspective on Dog-Handler-Client Interactions in Animal Assisted Activities for Children, Youth and Young Adults
Authors: Roma Renata P. S. , Tardif-Williams Christine Yvette , Moore Shannon A. , Bosacki Sandra L. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
A growing body of research has linked the inclusion of dogs in Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) for children and young adults to a diverse range of positive social emotional and cognitive outcomes. However, many studies have focused exclusively on aspects directly related to dog-client interactions. There is a need to gain a better understanding of how dog-handler teams have been described, conceptualized and incorporated into the analysis in previous research. In addition, few studies have investigated the mutual adjustments inherent to dog-handler-client triadic relationships. This paper explores if and how the unique characteristics of dog-handler teams have been conceptualized and measured in previous studies. First, this paper undertakes a scoping review to map what, if any, characteristics of dogs, handlers, and dog-handler teams have been described and incorporated into the assessment of AAAs from 2004 to 2019 including: demographic characteristics, formal training and certification, handlers’ or dogs’ behavioral and physiological responses to AAAs, handlers’ roles during activities, and configuration of AAA teams. This scoping review also highlights key features of AAA teams requiring further investigation. In addition, this paper proposes the incorporation of a transdisciplinary framework to the analysis of AAAs. Such a holistic framework can inform the field of human-animal interactions by prioritizing a relational and contextual focus to the study of AAAs.
Pet Ownership, Child Anxiety, Child Physical Activity and Mother’s Perception of Children’s Health Status
Authors: Castro Noel David , Lindsey Eric W. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
This study examined possible connections between pet ownership and children’s health status, as mediated by children’s anxiety and physical activity. A total of 134 mothers with a preschool age child participated in the study. Mothers completed a demographic survey, responded to questions about owning a pet, and reported on their child’s anxiety, physical activity, and physical health status. Mean comparisons revealed that children from households with a pet had lower scores on mother reported anxiety, higher scores on mother reported physical health and psychosocial health, and lower scores on mother reported vulnerability to illness, compared to children from households without a pet. Regression analyses revealed that associations between pet ownership and mother’s reports of children’s physical health and lower vulnerability to illness, but not psychosocial health, remained significant even after accounting for mother education and family income. In addition, the association between pet ownership and child physical health and vulnerability to illness was partially mediated by mother reported child anxiety. The present study supports previous evidence to suggest that pet ownership is associated with better health outcomes for children, and that this link may be accounted for by child anxiety.
Building the Science of Diverse Equine-assisted Services From the Ground Up
Authors: Wood Wendy 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

The aim of this special issue of the
Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin
is to build the scientific bases of distinct types of equine-assisted services from the ground up. I also think of the issue’s aim as breaking new ground. To introduce the issue, I delve into what it means to say that different types of equine-assisted services are indeed distinct. I also identify compelling sources of their distinctiveness and address why their distinctiveness matters a great deal scientifically. In presenting these topics in some depth, I hope to orient readers to the exact nature of the ground-breaking nature of the special issue’s articles.
Adaptive Riding Incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Elements for Youth with Anxiety: Fidelity Outcomes
Authors: Seibel Lauren , Seag Dana E.M. , Guo Fei , Morrissey Meghan , Peth-Pierce Robin , Acri Mary , Hamovitch Emily K. , Horwitz Sarah , Hoagwood Kimberly E. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Equine-assisted services include novel approaches for treating children’s mental health disorders, one of which is anxiety (
Latella & Abrams, 2019
). Reining in Anxiety is a manualized approach to adaptive riding drawing on evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy elements for youth with anxiety. This intervention was delivered by PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors (CTRIs) in a randomized pilot study. Fidelity checklists, developed to match the core components of the manualized intervention, were collected by independent observers. Fidelity scores addressed an average of 98.7% of components, well beyond the threshold for high fidelity (e.g. >80%) established in the literature (
Garbancz et al., 2014
). These findings show that the PATH CTRIs trained in the Reining in Anxiety intervention for this study, with supervision and implementation supports, delivered this intervention with high fidelity. This has important implications for expanding access to evidence-based community mental health services beyond traditional clinic settings and providers, and for addressing the gap between the need for and use of evidence-based youth mental health services.
Conceptualization of Psychotherapy Incorporating Equine Interactions in the United States
Authors: Fry Nina Ekholm 
Published: October 2022

AbstractWhile several systematic and mapping reviews have been published in the last decade on the psychological effects of interacting with horses in therapy services, little has been written about how licensed mental health therapists in the United States should best understand, describe, and conceptually position interactions with horses within their clinical practice. To this end, a healthcare-aligned conceptualization of equine interactions in psychotherapy and counseling is presented. Drawing from competencies and statements published by the American Counseling Association and the Human-Animal Interaction section of the American Psychological Association, the proposed conceptualization describes interactions with horses during psychotherapy as a technique and enhancement to existing treatment approaches, not as a standalone intervention or therapy. Additionally, the conceptualization aligns with legal and ethical responsibilities, and the professional identity of the licensed mental health therapist. The proposed conceptualization emphasizes the importance of using science-based information about horses so that their role and function in psychotherapy sessions can be more accurately understood. The conceptualization is proposed to have positive effects on the day-to-day practice of licensed mental health therapists in areas such as professional communication, treatment planning and provision, and engagement with healthcare processes such as service coding, reimbursement and insurance. The conceptualization could also be of use in research efforts as it clarifies how horse interactions should be understood in the context of treatment, which, in turn, affects research design. Use of the proposed conceptualization may help safeguard clients, other stakeholders, horses, and the licensed mental health therapists who incorporate interactions with horses in the provision of psychotherapy.
Adaptive Riding Incorporating Cognitive-Behavioral Elements for Youth with Anxiety: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Hoagwood Kimberly E. , Acri Mary , Morrissey Meghan , Peth-Pierce Robin , Seibel Lauren , Seag Dana E.M. , Vincent Aviva , Guo Fei , Hamovitch Emily K. , Horwitz Sarah 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Between 15% to 20% of youth meet diagnostic criteria for anxiety, yet most do not receive treatment due to workforce shortages, under-detection, or barriers that dissuade families from seeking services in traditional settings. Equine-assisted services (EAS) include several promising approaches to reach populations who do not access traditional therapies. Few studies using rigorous methods have been conducted on EAS for youth. This study examined feasibility and outcomes of a 10-session Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based adaptive riding intervention (hereafter called Reining in Anxiety) delivered by trained equine professionals.
Forty-one youth 6-16 years of age were recruited from GallopNYC, an adaptive horseback riding center in the NYC metro area. Youth were randomized to an experimental group (n=22) or services as usual (n=19), a standard adaptive riding group (services as usual or SAU). Severity of anxiety symptoms, anxiety in close relationships, and emotional self-efficacy were assessed at baseline and at the end of treatment.

Fidelity to the manual was excellent, ranging from 88.9% to 100%. There was a non-significant trend in the experimental group towards greater improvement with higher number of sessions completed. Youth in the Reining in Anxiety group displayed significant reductions in anxiety (t=4.426,
df=38,
p=0.042) and improvement in emotional self-efficacy at posttest (t=4.132,
df
=38, p=0.049) in comparison to the SAU group. No significant differences were found between groups for anxiety in close relationships.

This study suggests that a CBT-based adaptive riding intervention delivered by non-mental health equine professionals following a detailed manual can reduce youth anxiety symptoms and be delivered with fidelity by riding instructors. These findings have implications for families seeking non-traditional services.
The Effect of Interaction with a Dog on Heart Rate
Authors: Nose Izuru , Masamoto Kaori , Tsuchida Asami , Hayashi Mikiya , Irimajiri Mami , Kakinuma Miki 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) is widely used in therapeutic and educational situations. It is necessary to describe the effects of AAI based on objective indices to facilitate the effective use of AAI. We investigated the effects of interacting with a dog on sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activities by evaluating heart rate variability (HRV) using the Lorenz plot method. Participants were thirty-four healthy volunteers (17 females and 17 males, 20-29 years of age), randomly assigned to one of three groups: the dog group, the stuffed dog group, and the plant group. Participants rated their impressions of the target (the dog, the stuffed dog, or the plant) by touching it between task blocks. The participants completed a mood scale in each block, and we measured their heart rate, respiration rate, and skin conductance response. Results indicated that interactions with the dog increased the cardiac sympathetic index of Lorentz plot, skin conductance responses, and “high-arousal and pleasant mood” score compared to the other conditions. These results suggest that short interactions with a dog activate the sympathetic nervous system, which causes an awakening effect.
“My Lifeline is Gone”: An Exploration of the Experiences of Veterans Following the Loss of their Psychiatric Service Dog(s)
Authors: Gibson Maryellen , Chalmers Darlene , Ru Siyu 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Canadian veterans with PTSD are increasingly accessing psychiatric service dogs as a complementary treatment for their symptoms. Due to the short life span of dogs, however, it is inevitable that these veterans will experience the loss of their PSD either through death, retirement, or relinquishment. This exploratory qualitative study shares the findings from interviews with four veterans who had experienced grief at the loss of a PSD. The themes that emerged suggest that participants experienced a grief cycle: building of a bond with their PSD, a grief response after the loss of their PSD, healing and coping, and a transitional stage when introducing a new PSD into their lives. Recommendations are made for health care professionals working with veterans with psychiatric service dogs and for service dog providers and organizations to better prepare and support their clients leading up to and after the loss of their service dog.
Therapy dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder: Impacts of active versus passive dog engagement
Authors: Tepper Deanna L. , Landry Oriane , Howell Tiffani J. , Stephens Delwyne , Molina Jose , Bennett Pauleen C. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
The use of animal-assisted interventions as a method of improving symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is becoming increasingly common, with a significant proportion of available literature suggesting improvements in social communication and interaction. Less is known about potential impacts on restricted and repetitive behaviors, motor skills, or executive functions. Furthermore, it is unknown what level of interaction with an animal, if any, is needed to produce improvements. In the current study, the behavior and skills of 16 children diagnosed with ASD, aged 2 to 4 years, were observed when a therapy dog, Muffin, was actively interacting with them, passively present in a classroom, or absent from the classroom. Contrary to expectations, the children actively interacted with the dog only infrequently, and there were no differences across conditions on numerous variables. Muffin’s presence and activity level was only associated with motor skills in the children, with results indicating that the participants were more likely to remain stationary than engage in physical activity when the therapy dog was present, perhaps indicating a global calming effect. The general lack of significant differences suggests that further studies may be necessary to determine exactly which symptoms of ASD respond to animal-assisted interventions, and also to determine optimal treatment dosage and frequency. We contend that the design of animal-assisted intervention may be critical in producing previously reported benefits.
Commentary Article: Defining and Supporting High-Quality Telehealth for Patients with Opioid use Disorder: The Promise and Potential Pitfalls of Telehealth Expansion
Authors: Frank Christopher J. , Lin Lewei (Allison) 
Published: October 2022

Many patients with opioid use disorders do not receive evidence-based treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic expanded the use of telehealth for prescribing medications for opioid use disorder (OUD). The uptake of telehealth has been variable, and this uneven expansion has created natural experiments to test assumptions and answer key questions about what improves outcomes for patients with OUD. Many current quality of care measures are not patient centered and do not focus on the practical questions that clinicians face. What criteria should be met before prescribing buprenorphine? Are physical exams necessary? Does the frequency and type of drug testing predict clinical outcomes? Are short check-in visits by phone or video better than less frequent in-person visits? Answering these questions can help define the essential components of high-quality care for patients with OUD. Defining the features of high-quality care can help create guardrails that will help protect our patients from potentially exploitive and ineffective care. Telehealth will likely end up being one additional tool to deliver care, but the scientific questions that can be answered during this period of rapid change can help answer some of the fundamental questions about providing high-quality care—and that will help all our patients, no matter how care is delivered.
Inverse moving point source problem for the wave equation
Authors: Al Jebawy Hanin , Elbadia Abdellatif , Triki Faouzi 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
In this paper, we consider the problem of identifying a single moving point source for a three-dimensional wave equation from boundary measurements. Precisely, we show that the knowledge of the field generated by the source at six different points of the boundary over a finite time interval is sufficient to determine uniquely its trajectory. We also derive a Lipschitz stability estimate for the inversion.
Frequency-tunable sound insulation via a reconfigurable and ventilated acoustic metamaterial
Authors: Li Xing , Zhang Haozhe , Tian Hongxing , Huang Yingzhou , Wang Li 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
In acoustic engineering, sound-proofing ventilation barriers find wide applications in diverse situations. However, most of the structures only have responses with fixed frequencies and a very narrow frequency range, especially for low frequency acoustics. Here we show a subwavelength acoustic metamaterial based on labyrinthine structures, which possesses tunable sound insulation and ventilation properties. The Fano-like asymmetric transmission dips is formed by the interference between the resonant scattering of discrete states and the background scattering of continuous states. By adjusting the spacing between these two half zigzag molds, the sound insulation dip frequency can shift from 360 Hz to 575 Hz while the free ventilation area ratio is kept to over 36.3% and the total thickness is only about 0.06λ. Moreover, the noise peak frequency can be detected by a microphone detection and adaptive adjustment of the spacing with a small stepping motor is demonstrated, the results agree well with numerical simulations. We anticipate our design may find potential applications in acoustic air vents, soundproofing window and duct noise control.