Sammanfattning

Animals are increasingly included in treatment for children with autism, and research has shown positive effects, such as increased social initiatives, decreased typical autistic behaviors, and decreased stress. However, there are still knowledge gaps, for example, on underlying mechanisms and effects from longer treatment duration. The purpose of this study is to contribute to these gaps and ask questions about the ways in which animals and nature can improve conditions for psychological development through support from therapists. The method is based on grounded theory. Data comes from a treatment model (duration 11/2 years, a total of nine children), from environmental psychology and developmental psychology, both typical and atypical as in autism. The results consist of three key categories; reduce stress and instill calm, arouse curiosity and interest, and attract attention spontaneously. These three key categories are related to an underlying core variable, vitality forms, which was described by Daniel Stern and, according to him, is important in forming overall experiences. The starting point is the brain's way of encoding many internal and external events based on movement perception. Here it is argued that the vitality forms from nature and animals are particularly favorable for effecting development-promoting interactions with a therapist.

Nyckelord

autism; child development; treatment; mentalization; animal-assisted therapy; nature-based intervention

Publicerad i

International journal of environmental research and public health
2019, Volym: 16, nummer: 23, artikelnummer: 4673

SLU författare

• Byström, Kristina

  • Institutionen för människa och samhälle, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Länsstyrelsen i Västra Götalands län

• Grahn, Patrik

  • Institutionen för människa och samhälle, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Hägerhäll, Caroline

  • Institutionen för människa och samhälle, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Associerade SLU-program

Människa-djurinteraktioner
Naturupplevelser och hälsa


Globala målen

SDG3 Säkerställa hälsosamma liv och främja välbefinnande för alla i alla åldrar
SDG4 Säkerställa en inkluderande och likvärdig utbildning av god kvalitet och främja livslångt lärande för alla


UKÄ forskningsämne

Annan hälsovetenskap
Övriga andra lantbruksrelaterade vetenskaper
Tillämpad psykologi


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234673

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/103290