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Animal Assisted Activities on the Stress and Social Anxiety

The Effect of Animal Assisted Activities on the Stress and Social Anxiety Levels of Disabled Children

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04845100
Enrollment
44
Registered
2021-04-14
Start date
2019-11-15
Completion date
2020-11-15
Last updated
2021-04-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Animal Communication, Child, Disabling Disease, Nursing Caries, Social Anxiety, Stress

Keywords

pet therapy, disabled child, stress, social anxiety

Brief summary

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the effects of animal-assisted activities on the stress and social anxiety levels of physically disabled children. Method: The research was carried out in two separate Special Education and Rehabilitation Centers providing education under the Antalya Provincial Directorate of National Education. The data of the study were obtained between November 2019-September 2020. The study is a single blind randomized controlled study designed in a pretest, posttest and follow-up design. The study was carried out in two different institutions to prevent contamination. Institutions are determined by an independent lottery method. The sample of the study consisted of 44 physically disabled children between the ages of 8-11, as the intervention group (n: 21) and the control group (n: 23). A 45-60 minute structured animal supported activity program (HayDAP) was applied to the intervention group, once a week for 7 weeks. Interviews were conducted individually. The data of the study were obtained using Personal Information Form (KBF), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Social Anxiety Scale for Children. Follow-up evaluation was made at the end of the 1st month following the completion of the application. There was no intervention in the control group. The data were analyzed using the Pearson Ki-Square Test in SPSS 23.0 package program, Fisher's Exact Test if large, Shapiro-Wilks Test, Box M, Bonferroni and mixed pattern ANOVA tests. A 95% significance level (or α = 0.05 margin of error) was used to determine the differences in the analyzes.

Detailed description

ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITY PROGRAM (HayDAP): 1. st week (Pre-test, introduction-introduction) Goal. Developing a trusting relationship 2. nd week (Information about cats) Purpose: To strengthen the bond that develops between the child and the application animal 3. th (Cat story reading) Purpose: To evaluate the emotions and solutions in the face of stressful life events in the face of the story. 4. th week (Teaching songs, poems, rhymes about cat) Objective: To determine the factors that may cause social anxiety and to support the increase of self-confidence in the child. 5. th week (Making / decorating a cat house) Purpose: Discussing the roles and relationships of the child in his / her social environment and developing awareness with examples of cats. Improving communication and problem solving skills 6. th week (Participation in the rehabilitation program with the treatment animal) Purpose: To monitor the child's adherence to treatment Evaluating the child's compliance with the treatment during physiotherapy activities while being observed by the application cat and the practitioner 7. th week (Evaluation and closing, last test) Purpose: Finishing the whole process by passing A healthy termination of the bond formed with the practice cat

Interventions

OTHERAnimal Assisted Activity Program

Animal Assisted Activity Program (HayDAP) 1. st week (Pre-test, introduction-introduction) 2. nd week (Information about cats) 3. th (Cat story reading) 4. th week (Teaching songs, poems, rhymes about cat) 5. th week (Making / decorating a cat house) 6. th week (Participation in the rehabilitation program with the treatment animal) 7. th week (Evaluation and closing, last test)

Sponsors

Şeyma Demiralay
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Intervention model description

The study is a single blind randomized controlled study designed in a pretest, posttest and follow-up design.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
8 Years to 11 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Volunteering to participate in research * Being in the age range of 8-11, * Only being physically disabled, * Reading and writing, * Parent's consent for the child to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

* Do not have an obstacle about the message * Being in any chronic disease with immune deficiency, * Don't have any animal allergies, * Application being afraid of animals, * Have an existing animal of your own, past or present Extraction Criteria: * Not participating in the interview for more than 2 weeks, * Development of a medical condition that prevents communication, * Participant's right to withdraw from the research in line with his family or his own request

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Stress7 Weeks, 1 MonthPerceived Stress Levell Scale; This one-dimensional scale consists of 9 items. It has a 4-point Likert type rating. The scores that can be obtained from the scale are between 9 and 36. The high scores on the scale questions indicate that the individual's stress level is means to be high.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Social Anxiety7 Weeks, 1 MonthSocial Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised; This one-dimensional scale has a 5-point Likert-type scale consisting of 18 items. The scores that can be obtained from the scale are between 18 and 90. The higher the score, the higher the social anxiety level.
Blood PressureOnly intervention group, every pre-intervention and post-intervention: During HayDAP intervention, for 7 weeks, before and after each applicationBlodd Pressure

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026