Facilitating Social Participation Through Animal Assisted Interventions : A Literature Review of Interventions for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Abstract: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) tend to experience restricted social participation and therefore require support in this area. Animal assisted interventions (AAIs) offer a complementary or alternative intervention approach for those children. This research aimed at investigating the literature on AAIs in relation to the social participation of children with NDDs. A systematic literature review was conducted in four databases. Based on the PICO framework, search strings and inclusion/exclusion criteria were defined, resulting in the inclusion of eleven articles from seven countries. The selected articles were assessed for quality and data was extracted with the help of an extraction protocol. The majority of research concerned children with autism spectrum disorder, in the context of school, occupational therapy, and other health care and therapy settings. Social participation was assessed primarily through measures of frequency and initiation of social behaviors and interactions. Results of the studies were mixed, with a trend toward a positive effect of AAIs on social participation. Overall, most evidence was found for animal assisted therapy including dogs. The research reflected a lack of protocol for animal-assisted interventions and a need for a clear definition of social participation across research and practice. However, in relation to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health – Children and Youth version (ICF-CY), AAIs seem to offer a treatment approach that can target several factors simultaneously instead of putting a focus on body functions only. Although this research could not draw any straightforward conclusions, there is clearly an indication that AAIs have a positive potential to impact the social participation of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.