Becoming relationally effective: High-risk boys in animal-assisted therapy

Abstract

Abstract This study was conducted to formally evaluate the effectiveness of the Human Animal Bond in Colorado (HABIC, 2010), a well-developed animal-assisted therapy (AAT) intervention based in 23 elementary schools in the Front Range. Previous research on the benefits of human and dog relationships, otherwise called the human-animal bond, has provided support for using measures of attachment to rate the quality of connection within this dyad ( Kurdek, 2008 ; Melson, 2003 ; Triebenbacher, 1998 ). The Emotional Availability (EA) Scales 4 th Edition ( Biringen, 2008 ), an attachment-derived system, were used to objectively evaluate the interactions in the human-animal team, representing the first use of the EA system to assess the quality of the human-animal bond. In addition, the Bonding Scale ( Angle, Blumentritt, & Swank, 1994 ) was used to assess the child’s report of bonding to the dog; the Child Behavior Checklist and the Teacher Report Form ( Achenbach, 1991 ) were used to assess behavior problems; and school records yielded information about attendance and disciplinary referrals. All of the participants in this study were boys considered to be at high-risk for internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Paired-sample t-tests revealed that EA (child-dog and child-adult) significantly increased from pre- to post-test. (Child-adult EA scores apply to the child’s display of EA towards both the adult dog trainer and the school professional on the HABIC team.) In addition, a significant decrease was seen in student disciplinary referrals from pre- to post-test.