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Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Intervention in Institutionalized Children: Case Studies

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Rita Matias

    (Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
    Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade de Évora, 7000 Évora, Portugal)

  • Graça Duarte Santos

    (Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
    Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade de Évora, 7000 Évora, Portugal)

  • Nicole Almeida

    (Psychomotor Therapist at T-Terapias, 2500 Caldas da Rainha, Portugal)

Abstract

A significant number of institutionalized children have behavior problems. Socio-emotional skills are fundamental for their adaptation and success throughout life and are usually weakened in this population. Equine-assisted services (EAS) are a form of therapeutic mediation that facilitates and requires the practitioner’s participation, contributing to the promotion of various psychomotor and socio-emotional dimensions. This study was developed during 17 sessions of EAS with a psychomotor intervention, which took place individually and weekly and lasted approximately 45 min, with three institutionalized children. A quantitative and qualitative assessment was carried out before and after the intervention to study the effects of an EAS intervention on socio-emotional competencies in the three institutionalized children. There was an improvement in skills, with an impact on intrapersonal skills and marked improvement in self-regulation and self-control, in addition to an improvement in the intentionality of movement and adequacy of gesture to the context. This type of intervention underlies a renewed educational and therapeutic approach, contributing to mental health promotion in this population.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Rita Matias & Graça Duarte Santos & Nicole Almeida, 2023. "Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Intervention in Institutionalized Children: Case Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2846-:d:1059167
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