HABRI Central

In This Series

1. An Animal-Assisted Intervention Study in the Nursing Home: Lessons Learned

   

   Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Lonneke G. J. A. Schuurmans, Inge Noback, Jos M. G. A. Schols, Marie-Jose Enders-Slegers

   AAI studies in the nursing home pose a specific set of challenges. In this article the practical and ethical issues encountered during a Dutch psychogeriatric nursing home AAI study are addressed with the aim of sharing our experiences for future researchers as well as AAI practitioners in...

2. Paws for Thought: The Importance of Dogs in a Seniors Social Intervention

   

   Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Elisa Maria Concetta Papotto, Jessica Lee Oliva Dr

   As Australia faces an aging population with an unprecedented life expectancy, it is the community’s obligation to ensure seniors are offered resources to support their well-being. Studies investigating loneliness in aged-care facilities attest to the therapeutic properties of dogs for...

3. The Intersection of Aging and Pet Guardianship: Influences of Health and Social Support

   

   Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Ranell L. Mueller, Elizabeth G. Hunter

   Studies of the human-animal bond show many positive health effects for pet guardians including a sense of companionship, reduced depression and loneliness, and higher activity levels, yet few studies have examined factors such as how the pet guardians’ health, age, and social networks...

4. The Meaning and Motivation of Children Participating in Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Pilot Study

   

   Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Beth Laskowski, Melissa Y. Winkle, Whitney Lucas Molitor

   Background: Despite claims that animal-assisted therapy is beneficial, there is limited empirical evidence supporting this. Current literature supports the physical, emotional, and psychological benefits an animal can provide, but few studies have explored the outcomes of incorporating an...

5. Interpersonal and Pet Attachment, Empathy toward Animals, and Anthropomorphism: An Investigation of Pet Owners in Romania

   

   Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Alina Simona Rusu, Carmen Costea-Barlutiu, Dennis C. Turner

   The current study investigates the associations between interpersonal and pet attachment (anxiety and avoidance dimensions), empathy toward animals, and anthropomorphism in the Romanian cultural context, where problems regarding the effectiveness of pet management programs are still being...

6. Psychosocial Impact of Pet Keeping on Schoolchildren in China

   

   Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Yanxia Song, Toshiya Hirose, Naoko Koda

   Studies in Western countries have demonstrated the benefits of pets for humans. However, there are not many studies on human-pet relationships in different cultures and societies; for example, few in Asia. This questionnaire survey demonstrated that attachment to pets benefits the psychosocial...

7. Effects of Short-Term Human-Horse Interactions on Human Heart Rate Variability: A Multiple Single Case Study

   

   Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Saan Ecker, Amy Lykins

   Influences from human-horse interactions form the basis of the emerging field of equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP). However, the psychophysiological effects of horses on humans in the EAP context have been underinvestigated. This multiple single case design study examined the effects of...