The Effectiveness of Equine-Assisted Mental Health Interventions for Youth: A Meta-Analysis of Controlled Studies

IF 4.7 2区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL

Adolescent Research Review Pub Date : 2023-03-07 DOI:10.1007/s40894-023-00209-9

Sarah Fuller-Lovins, Yasuko Kanamori, Charles E. Myers, Jeffrey H. D. Cornelius-White

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Youth have experienced an increase in mental health concerns and can be challenging to work with using traditional talk-based prevention and treatment options. This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize existing studies on the effectiveness of equine-assisted interventions with youth for psychosocial outcomes, such as internalizing and externalizing problems, adaptive efficacy, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms. Search and selection procedures involved screening 3525 records to yield 16 controlled studies published between 2009 and 2021 with 1009 participants. The results showed a statistically significant, homogenous, and medium effect for the overall effectiveness of equine interventions for improving overall psychosocial outcomes for youth (n = 16, d = .535, 95% CI [.345, .726], p < .001, I² = 0.39). The results also showed similar statistically significant effects for externalizing problems, internalizing problems, and adaptive efficacy. However, the effectiveness of equine-assisted interventions for the self-esteem and depressive symptoms (when measured separately from internalizing problems) of youth was statistically non-significant. For self-esteem, the effects were heterogeneous, suggesting the studies may not be measuring the same effect. Future research on equine-assisted interventions for the mental health of youth should utilize designs with larger sample sizes, randomization and/or clear equivalence of comparison groups, a credible comparison treatment, complete and analyzable follow-up measurements, and adequate statistical analyses and reporting.

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马辅助青少年心理健康干预的有效性：对照研究的Meta分析

年轻人的心理健康问题有所增加，使用传统的基于谈话的预防和治疗方案可能很有挑战性。这项荟萃分析旨在综合现有的关于马辅助干预对青少年心理社会结果的有效性的研究，如内化和外化问题、适应效能、自尊和抑郁症状。搜索和选择程序包括筛选3525份记录，以产生2009年至2021年间发表的16项对照研究，共有1009名参与者。结果显示，马干预措施在改善青年整体心理社会结果方面的总体有效性具有统计学意义、同质和中等的效果（n = 16，d = .535，95%置信区间[0.345,726]，p <； .001，I2 = 0.39）。结果还显示，在外化问题、内化问题和适应效能方面也有类似的统计学显著影响。然而，马辅助干预对青少年自尊和抑郁症状（与内化问题分开测量时）的有效性在统计学上并不显著。对于自尊，影响是异质的，这表明这些研究可能没有测量到相同的影响。未来对马辅助干预青少年心理健康的研究应采用更大样本量的设计、随机化和/或比较组的明确等效性、可信的比较治疗、完整且可分析的随访测量以及充分的统计分析和报告。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Adolescent Research Review PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL-

CiteScore

10.40

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Adolescent Research Review publishes articles that review important contributions to the understanding of adolescence. The Review draws from the many subdisciplines of developmental science, psychological science, education, criminology, public health, medicine, social work, and other allied disciplines that address the subject of youth and adolescence. The editors are especially interested in articles that bridge gaps between disciplines or that focus on topics that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Reviews must be cutting edge and comprehensive in the way they advance science, practice or policy relating to adolescents.