Peer-reviewed article
Use of "Non-Traditional" Animal-Assisted Interventions in Children: A Scoping Review.
Gruen ME, Mittal N, Gross P, Hamad MA, Kadumpalli AR et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examined research on animal-assisted interventions using non-traditional animals (such as dolphins, rabbits, guinea pigs, donkeys, goats, cats, fish, reptiles, and elephants) with children and adolescents. The review identified 48 studies conducted mainly in schools, therapy centers, farms, hospitals, and residential settings, targeting children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, anxiety, and trauma. While many studies reported favorable outcomes related to social communication, emotional well-being, and self-esteem, the evidence base is limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous methods, and few controlled studies. The review cannot draw firm conclusions about effectiveness due to methodological variation and lack of formal quality assessment.
Key points
- 48 studies examined non-traditional animal-assisted interventions with children aged ≤18 years, involving diverse species beyond dogs and horses
- Common outcomes measured included social communication, emotional well-being, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, cognition, and physical functioning
- Studies were highly heterogeneous in design, populations, interventions, and outcome measures
- The evidence base is characterized by small samples, methodological heterogeneity, and relatively few controlled studies
- Favorable outcomes were frequently reported, but conclusions about efficacy or effectiveness cannot be drawn without formal quality assessment
Limitations
The review does not formally assess the methodological quality or risk of bias of included studies, so it cannot determine whether interventions actually work or whether reported benefits reflect study design limitations. The global coverage of studies is not specified, limiting understanding of geographic variation in the evidence.
Abstract
Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) are increasingly used to support pediatric health, education, and psychosocial well-being. While most research has focused on dogs and horses, a growing body of literature has examined the use of other less traditional animal species. This scoping review mapped the existing evidence on non-traditional AAI in children and adolescents. Using a Population-Concept-Context framework, studies involving participants aged ≤18 years and non-traditional AAI were identified and reviewed. Data were extracted on intervention characteristics, animal species, populations, settings, outcomes, and study design. Forty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Interventions involved diverse species, including dolphins, rabbits, guinea pigs, donkeys, goats, cows, cats, fish, reptiles, insects, turtles, giant snails, and elephants. Studies were conducted primarily in schools, therapy centers, farms, hospitals, and residential settings. Common populations included children with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, developmental disabilities, anxiety, trauma-related experiences, and other health conditions. Outcomes are most frequently related to social communication, emotional well-being, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, cognition, and physical functioning. Although favorable outcomes were frequently reported, the studies varied considerably in design, populations, interventions, and outcome measures. Because the methodological quality and risk of bias of included studies were not formally assessed, conclusions regarding the efficacy or effectiveness of non-traditional AAI cannot be drawn from this review. The findings instead characterize the scope and diversity of the existing literature and identify areas for further investigation. The evidence base is characterized by small samples, methodological heterogeneity, and relatively few controlled studies, highlighting the need for more rigorous research.