Tag: children

Do children on the autistic spectrum benefit from assistance dogs?

Post author By Human Animal Science
Post date October 10, 2014
No Comments on Do children on the autistic spectrum benefit from assistance dogs?

Autism assistance dogs

How do parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) perceive the value of assistance dogs?

It’s a new area of research for Louise Burgoyne at the University College Cork in Ireland.

Louise holds a PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health, a Masters in Marketing and a Bachelor of Art in Applied Psychology.

She also has a gorgeous German Shepherd, named Kyla, who she participates with in search and rescue, as an Irish Search Dog member.

In this episode, we hear from Louise about her research investigating the effects of assistance dogs to children with autism spectrum disorder and their families.

Podcast

Publications

Autism assistance dogs - Louise Burgoyne — Louise Burgoyne

Burgoyne, L., Dowling, L., Fitzgerald, A., Connolly, M., Browne, J. P., & Perry, I. J. (2014). Parents’ perspectives on the value of assistance dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 4(6): e004786. [Open Access]

Berry, A., Borgi, M., Francia, N., Alleva, E., & Cirulli, F. (2013). Use of assistance and therapy dogs for children with autism spectrum disorders: A critical review of the current evidence. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 19(2), 73-80.

O’Haire, M. E. (2013). Animal-assisted intervention for autism spectrum disorder: A systematic literature review. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 43(7), 1606-1622.

Davis, B. W., Nattrass, K., O’Brien, S., Patronek, G., & MacCollin, M. (2004). Assistance dog placement in the pediatric population: Benefits, risks, and recommendations for future application. Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 17(2), 130-145.

Links

Louise Burgoyne: University College Cork Profile

Louise’s other publications on Research Gate

Video – What is autism (a quick refresher)

What is autism?

Header image via Flickr/Paolo Manalac

Psychology

Animal attraction & human animal interaction: positive youth development

Post author By Human Animal Science
Post date May 12, 2014
No Comments on Animal attraction & human animal interaction: positive youth development

Animal attraction and human animal interaction

Dr Megan Mueller is a developmental psychologist working in the Cummings School of veterinary medicine at Tufts University (USA).

Megan’s own passion for animals led her to scientifically examine the roles they play in human health and positive development for children, families and communities.

In this episode of Human Animal Science, we speak to Megan about her recent research looking at human animal interaction and positive youth development.

Podcast

Links

Megan Mueller - Animal attraction and human animal interaction — Megan Mueller

Megan Mueller – Tufts University Profile

Publications

Mueller, M. K. (2014). Is Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Linked to Positive Youth Development? Initial Answers. Applied Developmental Science, 18(1), 5-16.

Mueller, M. K. (2014). The Relationship between Types of Human–Animal Interaction and Attitudes about Animals: An Exploratory Study. Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 27(2), 295-308.

Mueller, M. K. (2014). Human-Animal Interaction as a Context for Positive Youth Development: A Relational Developmental Systems Approach to Constructing Human-Animal Interaction Theory and Research. Human Development, 57(1), 5-25.

More of Megan’s publications via Google Scholar

Photo: Flickr/stuckincustoms

Therapy

Amazing tails: Reading with dogs

Post author By Human Animal Science
Post date April 8, 2014
No Comments on Amazing tails: Reading with dogs

Reading with dogs

Dr Holly Lane is an Associate Professor in the School of Special Education, School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies at the University of Florida’s College of Education.

Her research focuses on literacy intervention and prevention of reading difficulties through effective early literacy instruction and teacher education.

Holly’s first observations as a classroom teacher with her own dog, Floyd, led her to notice how dogs helped to motivate students.

Fast forward to now, and she’s getting the opportunity to research the growing field of canine-assisted reading programs, with promising future directions.

Listen in and find out what she has to say about reading with dogs!