Equine-Assisted Learning for Children with Trauma and their Caregivers

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Animal-Assisted Therapy

Background:

• Trauma exposure negatively impacts children's well-being and development.
• Animal-assisted therapies, particularly equine-assisted learning (EAL), are emerging as beneficial interventions.
• Support for caregivers is crucial for improving outcomes in children exposed to trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an equine-assisted learning (EAL) intervention for children exposed to trauma and their caregivers.
• To assess the impact of the Resilience Reins EAL program on children's emotional regulation, communication, and self-efficacy.
• To examine the effectiveness of the Parent Café for caregivers in enhancing protective factors and parenting knowledge.

Main Methods:

• A seven-week equine-assisted learning (EAL) intervention (Resilience Reins) for children and a six-week Parent Café for caregivers.
• Participants included children exposed to trauma and their caregivers, referred by social services and law enforcement.
• Caregivers (n=151) completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Be Strong Protective Factors Survey at pretest and posttest.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in family functioning and parenting knowledge among caregivers.
• Children demonstrated significant reductions in conduct problems, hyperactivity, and emotional difficulties.
• Older boys whose caregivers attended the Parent Café showed improvements in peer problems and prosocial behavior.

Conclusions:

• The integrated EAL and caregiver support program positively impacts children exposed to trauma and their families.
• EAL interventions show promise in enhancing children's behavioral and emotional regulation.
• Caregiver support programs are effective in strengthening protective factors and improving parenting skills for families affected by trauma.