Thesis
Associations between participation in an equine facilitated learning program and moment-to-moment change in cortisol and emotion in 5th through 8th grade young adolescents
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100974
Abstract
Over the last decade, equine facilitated learning (EFL) programs have seen an increase in popularity and use. As causal evidence supporting such programs is just beginning to emerge, questions about the underlying pathways that contribute to these effects have arisen. This study closely examines one of the activities in an 11-week EFL programs that represents an activity typically utilized in EFL programs at large--horseback riding--and how the experience (i.e., physiological activity and reactivity, momentary emotion, observed behavior) of the adolescent participants (N = 59) during their first horseback riding activity underlies program effects (i.e., social competence). When examining the observed behavior during the session under study, I found that observed positive behavior during the session that the participants rode their horse for the first time was predicted by positive emotion at the completion of their first ride ([Beta] = .461, p = .026). Observed negative behavior during this same session was predicted by negative emotion immediately before mounting the horse ([Beta] = .338, p = .037), positive emotion following the completion of the riding activity ([Beta] = -.578, p = .004), and diurnal cortisol patterns before beginning the program ([Beta] = .280, p = .045). Subsequently, social competence at the end of the 11-week EFL program was predicted by pre-test levels of social competence ([Beta] = .701, p < .001) and the amount of negative behavior observed during the session that the adolescents participate in their first mounted horse activity ([Beta] = -.375, p = .007).
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Details
- Title
- Associations between participation in an equine facilitated learning program and moment-to-moment change in cortisol and emotion in 5th through 8th grade young adolescents
- Creators
- Alexa Marie Carr
- Contributors
- Patricia Pendry (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Human Development, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525139501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis