EFFECTS OF HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION ON LIFE SKILLS AND WELL-BEING OF YOUTH IN PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON DOG ACTIVITIES

Lindsay Madden Ellsworth

This investigation examined the effect of human-animal interactions on life skills and well-being of youth involved in dog-focused activities. The goals were to determine if dog-focused activities: 1) were associated with improvements in youth life skills development, 2) had an effect on affect during recreational activities of adolescents in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and 3) enhanced established adolescent SUD treatment intervention effects. First, possible effects of dogs on youth life skills development were compared across three conditions: 4-H clubs conducting dog-focused activities (4-H dog clubs), 4-H clubs conducting activities not involving dogs (4-H non-dog clubs), and school youth not involved in 4-H (school group). Responses to standardized questionnaires revealed that youth in 4-H dog clubs had higher stress management scores compared with those in 4-H non-dog clubs and school group conditions, and higher scholastic competence and global self-worth scores compared with those in the school group. Next, effects of recreational activities involving animal shelter dogs on affect of adolescents in inpatient SUD treatment were examined. Affect and attitudes towards activities during dog-interaction and control conditions were compared using Positive and Negative Affect Scale-Expanded Form (PANAS-X) subscales and a researcher-generated survey, respectively. The dog-interaction condition resulted in lower Hostility and Sadness scores, and more positive attitude responses, than the control condition. Third, the involvement of shelter dogs in recreational activities and process-oriented group therapy during adolescent inpatient SUD treatment interventions was investigated. Affect, group therapy engagement, treatment compliance, and attitudes towards activities in dog-assisted and control conditions were assessed using selected PANAS-X subscales, the Occupational Therapy Task Observation Scale, SUD treatment points, and researcher-generated survey, respectively. Positive Affect, Joviality, and Self-Assurance PANAS-X scores increased in response to the dog-assisted condition and decreased in response to the control condition, and conversely for Hostility scores. Dog-assisted activities were also viewed as more positive and well-organized than control activities. Overall, dog-focused activities were associated with beneficial effects on life skills development and well-being of youth. This research contributes to growing empirical evidence for psychological and physiological benefits to humans from human-animal interactions and positives impacts on SUD treatment interventions.

EFFECTS OF HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION ON LIFE SKILLS AND WELL-BEING OF YOUTH IN PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON DOG ACTIVITIES

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