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The Effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Intervention on Emotional Awareness, Mental Imagery and Animation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Sara Fakharian Moghaddam   , Fariba Bashardost Tajali , Qasem Ahi , Anahita Ghaffarian Tasbihi Sani |
| Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Ro.C., Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran , faribabashardoost@iau.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (11 Views) |
Introduction: Autism is one of the most extensive and active areas of research, and recognizing and understanding the diverse characteristics of these children is crucial to providing effective support and creating an inclusive environment for them. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of animal-assisted intervention on emotional awareness, mental imagery, and vitality of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Methods: The research design was a single-subject quasi-experimental design with multiple baselines with different subjects and continuous assessment with a 2-month follow-up. The statistical population of this study consisted of all children with autism referred to Tabesam Elementary School in Mashhad between October and March 2024. Among these individuals, three were selected through purposive sampling and were diagnosed with autism based on clinical interview and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, and met the inclusion criteria for the study. Participants, in collaboration with their instructor, completed the Williams and Camroen Emotional Awareness Questionnaire (2017) and the mental imagery and vitality subscales of the Riffe & et al Autism Spectrum Disorder Questionnaire (2008). The therapeutic intervention was implemented based on the Wijker protocol (2022) in 10 weekly individual sessions with a duration of one hour per week. Visual charting methods, the Resilient Change Index (RCI), and the percentage of improvement formula were used to analyze the data.
Result: The results of the study regarding the variables of emotional awareness, mental imagery, and vitality in children with autism indicated an increase in the changes in the mean scores and the percentage of improvement of the participants as a result of the animal-assisted intervention (P<0.01).
Conclusions: Therefore, animal-assisted intervention can lead to an increase in emotional awareness, mental imagery, and vitality of children with autism spectrum disorders. |
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| Keywords: Animal-Assisted Intervention, Animation, Emotional Awareness, Mental Imagery. |
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Full-Text [PDF 342 kb]
(10 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/07/19 | Accepted: 2025/08/26 | Published: 2025/10/2
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