Korean Journal of Veterinary Service (한국동물위생학회지)

The Korean Society of Veterinary Service (한국동물위생학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The effects of an animal-assisted therapy (AAT) program on depression and self-esteem of adolescents as victims of school violence

동물매개치료 프로그램이 학교폭력 피해경험 청소년의 우울과 자아존중감에 미치는 영향

  • Park, Hyoung-Joon (College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Kim, Chung-Hui (College of Life Resourses Science, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology)
  • 박형준 (경상대학교 수의과대학 수의학과) ;
  • 김충희 (경남과학기술대학교 생명자원과학대학 동물생명과학과)
  • Received : 2012.10.29
  • Accepted : 2012.12.17
  • Published : 2012.12.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study aimed to see if as companion animals living with human beings, dogs could provide emotional stability or play a therapeutic role for human beings. Of 12 middle school boys as victims of school violence, 6 were assigned to the experimental group that was provided with an animal-assisted therapy program over a total of 12 sections, one section per week, 60 minutes per section, between September and November 2011, followed by post-test 1 and, one month later, post-test 2. In the experimental composition, the remaining 6 boys were assigned to the comparison group that was allowed to read freely. Analysis was performed by using the scales of depression and self-esteem, and the results showed that the experimental group provided with the animal-assisted therapy program generated more significant therapeutic effects than the comparison group. The therapeutic effects were found to persist one month after the completion of the program. Therefore, it is believed that sensitive adolescents who suffer from depression or have lost self-esteem because of school violence can significantly benefit from an animal-assisted therapy program by reducing the recovery time or by getting lots of help with emotional stability. Further research on the basis of this study is expected to help adolescents with emotional therapy in other areas.

Keywords

References

  1. Aoki J, Iwahashi K, Ishigooka J, Fukamauchi F, Numajiri M, Ohtani N, Ohta M. 2012. Evaluation of cerebral activity in the prefrontal cortex in mood [affective] disorders during animal-assisted therapy (AAT) by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS): a pilot study. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract 16: 205-213. https://doi.org/10.3109/13651501.2011.644565
  2. Banks MR, Willoughby LM, Banks WA. 2008. Animal-assisted therapy and loneliness in nursing homes: use of robotic versus living dogs. J Am Med Dir Assoc 9: 173-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2007.11.007
  3. Banszky N, Kardos E, Rozsa L, Gerevich J. 2012. The psychiatric aspects of animal assisted therapy. Psychiatr Hung 27: 180-190.
  4. Choi BG, Jeon GY. 1993. A study on the development of the self-esteem inventory (I). Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association 31: 41-54.
  5. Coopersmith S, Woodrow K. 1967. Basal conductance levels of normals and alcoholics. Q J Stud Alcohol 28: 27-32.
  6. Endenburg N, van Lith HA. 2011. The influence of animals on the development of children. Vet J 190: 208-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.11.020
  7. Farrell AD, Henry DB, Schoeny ME, Bettencourt A, Tolan PH. 2010. Normative beliefs and self-efficacy for nonviolence as moderators of peer, school, and parental risk factors for aggression in early adolescence. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 39: 800-813. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2010.517167
  8. Kim CH, Noh HL, Choi IS. 1998. A study on the effect of animal assisted program on an adolescent with problems in interpersonal relationships owing to school violence. Mental Health & Social Work 5: 85-99.
  9. Kim CH, Shin HC, Park YW, Ou SW, Cho BL, Youn YH, Song SW. 2000. Validity of Zung's self - rating depression scale: detection of depression in primary care. KJFP 21: 1317-1329.
  10. Lee RJ, Gill A, Chen B, McCloskey M, Coccaro EF. 2012. Modulation of central serotonin affects emotional information processing in impulsive aggressive personality disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacol 32: 329-335. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0b013e31825368b7
  11. Maneta E, Cohen S, Schulz M, Waldinger RJ. 2012. Links between childhood physical abuse and intimate partner aggression: the mediating role of anger expression. Violence Vict 27: 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.27.3.315
  12. Moutier C, Norcross W, Jong P, Norman M, Kirby B, McGuire T, Zisook S. 2012. The suicide prevention and depression awareness program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Acad Med 87: 320-326. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0b013e31824451ad
  13. Parish-Plass N. 2008. Animal-assisted therapy with children suffering from insecure attachment due to abuse and neglect: a method to lower the risk of intergenerational transmission of abuse? Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 13: 7-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104507086338
  14. Rossetti J, King C. 2010. Use of animal-assisted therapy with psychiatric patients. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv 48: 44-48.
  15. Sockalingam S, Li M, Krishnadev U, Hanson K, Balaban K, Pacione LR, Bhalerao S. 2008. Use of animal-assisted therapy in the rehabilitation of an assault victim with a concurrent mood disorder. Issues Ment Health Nurs 29: 73-84. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840701748847
  16. Song Y, Kim JS, Cho JH, Park BK, Kim CH. 2011. The effects of animal-assisted therapy on aggression and depression of children of family violence women victims. Korean Journal of Play Therapy 14: 93-105.
  17. Szombat M, François A. 2012. Violence in schools, adolescents suffering. Rev Med Brux 33: 22-25.
  18. Zilcha-Mano S, Mikulincer M, Shaver PR. 2011. Pet in the therapy room: an attachment perspective on Animal-Assisted Therapy. Attach Hum Dev 13: 541-561. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2011.608987
  19. Zung WWK, Richared CB, Short MJ. 1965. Self-rating depression scale in an outpatient clinic. Futher validation of the SDS. Arch gen psychiatry 13: 508-515. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1965.01730060026004

Cited by

  1. 곤충을 이용한 치유농업의 심리치유효과 - 호랑나비 사례 - vol.26, pp.3, 2019, https://doi.org/10.12653/jecd.2019.26.3.0153
  2. 닭 돌보기 활동이 중학생의 인성, 정서 및 자아존중감에 미치는 효과 vol.21, pp.3, 2012, https://doi.org/10.5762/kais.2020.21.3.173