The DOI matches its Crossref record; 36 of the 38 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Evaluating Animal-Assisted Therapy in Group Treatment for Child Sexual Abuse
Abstract
This study evaluates and compares the effectiveness of three group interventions on trauma symptoms for children who have been sexually abused. All of the groups followed the same treatment protocol, with two of them incorporating variations of animal-assisted therapy. A total of 153 children ages 7 to 17 who were in group therapy at a Child Advocacy Center participated in the study. Results indicate that children in the groups that included therapy dogs showed significant decreases in trauma symptoms including anxiety, depression, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, and sexual concerns. In addition, results show that children who participated in the group with therapeutic stories showed significantly more change than the other groups. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.
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“In contrast, two studies [40, 41] indicated that this may be a crucial component of the treatment process.”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
In the citing paper
“There is some evidence to suggest that AAT, and in particular CAP, is an effective intervention for child and adolescent populations with neurodevelopmental difficulties [31, 32] and trauma symptoms [33, 41].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
In the citing paper
“This resulted in further significant improvements to trauma symptoms over and above the groups with canines but no stories, and over treatment as usual (without canines) [41].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
In the citing paper
“This is important to explore further, as meaningful integration of canines into the therapeutic process has been shown to increase efficacy [41].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
In the citing paper
“Crucially, relevant and meaningful canine-presence that is clearly related to the psychotherapeutic content has been found to have a superior effect to incidental presence [41] and warrants further research.”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [41]
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Cited by
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Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma: a systematic literature review
O'Haire, M. E., Guérin, N. A., & Kirkham, A. C. (2015) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01121 · Cited by 202
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“This resulted in further significant improvements to trauma symptoms over and above the groups with canines but no stories, and over treatment as usual (without canines) [41].”
BackgroundInfluentialAnimal-assisted therapies for youth with or at risk for mental health problems: A systematic review
Hoagwood, K. E., Acri, M., Morrissey, M., & Peth-Pierce, R. (2017) · Applied Developmental Science · doi:10.1080/10888691.2015.1134267 · Cited by 158
“Over half (n 1⁄4 13, 54%) of the total number of studies did not randomly assign participants to conditions, but instead used a pretest/posttest design with non-random assignment to condition (Balluerka et al., 2014; Beetz, 2013; Dietz et al., 2012; Garcia-Gomez et al., 2014; Hamama et al., 2011; Prothmann et al., 200…”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialPatient benefit of dog-assisted interventions in health care: a systematic review
Lundqvist, M., Carlsson, P., Sjödahl, R. I., Theodorsson, E., & Levin, L. (2017) · BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1844-7 · Cited by 183
Animal-assisted therapy at Mayo Clinic: The time is now
Creagan, E. T., Bauer, B. A., Thomley, B. S., & Borg, J. M. (2015) · Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.03.002 · Cited by 110
Metadata
- Authors
- Dietz, T. J., Davis, D., & Pennings, J.
- Affiliations
- Texas Christian University (US)
- Alliance for Children
- Elite Research
- Corresponding author
- Dietz, Tracy J.
- ORCID
- Pennings, Jacquelyn
- Venue
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-11
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 665-683
- ISSN
- 1053-8712 (ISSN-L)
- 1547-0679
- OpenAlex
- W2015915867
- Cited by
- 165
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 5.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Therapy and Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Keywords
- animal-assisted therapy, therapy dogs, child sexual abuse, group therapy, trauma symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, anxiety, depression, anger, sexual concerns, therapeutic stories, child advocacy centers, children
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Animals, Human-Animal Bond, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Child Behavior, Dogs, Female, Humans, Male, Psychotherapy, Group, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, United States, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Animal Assisted Therapy
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