Abstract
Background: Over the past two decades, a large body of research has focused on the contribution of equine-assisted therapies to positive psychological changes in at-risk adolescents. The current study aimed to explore the subjective experiences of therapeutic horseback riding (THR, a type of equine-assisted therapy) among at-risk adolescents and examine how they describe the psychological benefits and the mechanisms of change of a THR intervention. Methods: This qualitative study focused on at-risk adolescents living in residential care. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 adolescents. Results: Thematic analysis revealed three themes: (a) participants’ presentation, (b) the benefits of riding as a mechanism of change in the THR intervention, and (c) the benefits of the relationship with the horse as a mechanism of change in the THR intervention. Conclusions: The results of this study emphasize that the riding process and the relationship with the horse are the core mechanisms of THR interventions for at-risk adolescents and provide various psychological, behavioral, and relational benefits. Self-determination theory (SDT) is a relevant framework through which to explore at-risk adolescents’ subjective experiences of THR intervention and reveal its benefits for them.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 90 |
| Journal | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 23 Nov 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2022, This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.
Funding
The study was funded thanks to the research unit of TRCI (Therapeutic Riding and Canine Center in Israel).
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| TRCI |
Keywords
- At-risk adolescents
- Autonomy
- Self-determination theory
- Sense of competence
- Therapeutic horseback riding
