Document Type : Original research study

Authors

1 PhD Student in Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor,Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

4 university of tehran

5 Professor at University of Isfahan

Abstract

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder exhibit a variety of aggressive behaviors such as physical and verbal aggression. Despite the growing prevalence of this disorder, research on horse therapy is limited for these individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of eight weeks of horse therapy on the types of aggression in ASD adolescents using The Children's Scale of Hostility and Aggression – Reactive/ Proactive (C- SHARP). For this purpose, 24 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder participated in the present study using the available sampling method. Then, based on the variables of age, gender and the degree of disorder in autism, they were matched in an experimental group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 12). Each participant in the experimental group was individually treated by a trainer for eight weeks (five days in week). Changes in aggression were assessed through The Children's Scale of Hostility and Aggression – Reactive/ Proactive (C- SHARP). The results showed that the horse therapy training program had a significant effect on improving and reducing the aggressive behaviors of the experimental group compared to the control group (p <0.05). Thus, with appropriate intervention, this group of people have the opportunity to express their emotions, emotions through appropriate treatment, in a social way, so they show less aggression. As a result, horse therapy interventions can be used as an effective way to control the aggressive behavior of adolescents with ASD.

Keywords

Main Subjects

  1. Ahemaitijiang,N.,Hu,X.,Yang,X.,&Han,Z.R.(2020) .Effects of meditation on the soles of the feet on the aggressive and destructive behaviors of Chinese adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Mindfulness, 11(1), 230-240.
  2. Alteneiji,M.R.,Alqaydi,L.M.,&Tariq,M.U.(2020).Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis using Optimal Machine Learning Methods.Autism,11(9),252-260.
  3. Arjmandnia,A.A.,Azimi Grossi,S., Mohseni Ajieh,,Javadi Asayesh, s(2018) The effect of hydrotherapy on aggression in children with autism spectrum disorder: A single case study.Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 7(4), 249-260. ) persian(
  4. Chen,C,Shen,Y.D.,Xun,G.L.,Cai,W.X.,Shi,L. J.,Xiao,L.,Ou,J.J(2017)Aggressivebehaviors and treatable risk factors of preschool children with autism spectrum.Autismresearch,10(6),1155-1162.
  5. Contalbrigo,L.,Borgi,M.,DeSantis,M., Collacchi, B.,Tuozzi,A.,Toson,M.,Stefani,A(2021).Equine-Assisted Interventions (EAIs)for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders(ASD):Behaviouraland.Physiological Indices of Stress in Domestic Horses (Equus caballus) during Riding Sessions. Animals, 11(6), 1562.
  6. Dieleman,L.M.,DePauw,S.S.,Soenens,B.,Mabbe,E.,Campbell,R.,&Prinzie,P.(2018).Relations between problem behaviors, perceived symptom severity and parenting in adolescents and emerging adults with ASD: The mediating role of parental psychological need frustration. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 73, 21-30. )persian(
  7. Đorđević,M., Glumbić, N., Brojčin, B., & Jojić, M. (2019). Predictors of aggressive behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder.Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities, 2(2), 70-81.
  8. Ecker,S,&Byrnes,J. (2018).Improving social and communication skills for participants with autism spectrum disorder through equine-assistedpsychotherapy.In Equine-Assisted Mental Health Interventions (pp. 114-121): Routledge.
  9. Elkhamisi,E.S.,&Almutery,M.(2018).Aggression Dimensionsin Students with Autism. EuropeanScientificJournal,14(9),330-345.
  10. Farmer,C.A.,&Aman,M.G. (2009). Development of the children's scale of hostility and aggression: Reactive/proactive (C-SHARP). Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30(6), 1155-1167.
  11. Farmer,C.A.,Kaat,A.J.,Mazurek, M. O., Lainhart, J. E., DeWitt, M. B., Cook, E. H. & Aman, M. G. (2016). Confirmation of the factor structure and measurement invariance of the children's scale of hostility and aggression: Reactive/proactive in clinic-referred children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology,26(1), 10-18.‏
  12. Filiou, A.-E. (2022). Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents With Autism: Application of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy and Other Early Interventions. In Interventions for Improving Adaptive Behaviors in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (pp.193-212):IGI Global.
  13. Gabriels, R. L., Pan, Z., Guérin, N. A., Dechant, B., & Mesibov, G. (2018). Long-term effect of therapeutic horseback riding in youth with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized trial. Frontiers in Veterinary Science,5, 156.
  14. García-Gómez, , Risco ,M .L., Rubio, J.C., Guerrero, E., & García-Peña, I. M. (2014). Effects of a Program of Adapted Therapeutic Horse-riding in a Group of Autism Spectrum Disorder Children. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology. 128-107.
  15. García-Gómez, , Rodríguez- Jiménez,M. Guerrero-Barona,E.,Rubio-Jiménez, J. C., García-Peña, I., & Moreno-Manso, J. M. (2016).Benefits of an experimental program of equestrian therapy for children with ADHD.Research in Developmental Disabilities, 59, 176-185.
  16. García‐Villamisar,D.A.,& Dattilo, J. (2010). Effects of a leisure programme on quality of life and stress of individuals with ASD. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(7), 611-619.
  17. Ghadimi.Kalateh,Z.,Qaisari,SF,&Sheikh,M(2021).Psychometric

 

properties of the Persian version of the C-SHARP questionnaire (Children'sHostilityandAggressionScale: Active/Reactive)inpeoplewithand withoutautismspectrumdisorderinpersian ). persian

  1. Gilliam,J.E.(2014).Gilliam Autism Rating Scale–Third Edition (GARS-3).Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
  2. Kendall,E. Maujean,A., Pepping,C.A., Downes, M., Lakhani,A, Byrne,J,& Macfarlane, K. (2015).A systematic review of the efficacy of equine-assisted interventions on psychological outcomes. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling, 17(1), 57-79.
  3. Khazaali,K., Ghasemi,Z. Ghorbaghi,S(2014).A review of the effect of therapeutic equestrian therapy in children with autism.Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences »No.7. )persian(
  4. Mani,M.,Taghinejad,n(2018(.The effect of music therapy on reducing the aggressive behaviors of autistic children in Bandar Abbas.Studies in Psychology and Educational Sciences,23 (4), 81-91.in persian ). persian(
  5. Memishevikj,H.,Hodzhikj,S(2010).The effects of equine-assisted therapy in improving the psychosocial functioningof children with autism.The Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation,11(3/4), 57.

 

 

 

 

  1. Minaei,A.,Nazeri,S.(2018).PsychometricProperties of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale -ThirdEdition(Garz-3)inAutismPatients :APreliminaryStudy.Exceptionalchildrenr of summer. 2 (68).) persian(
  2. Neuhaus,E.,Kang,V.Y., Kresse,A., Corrigan,S., Aylward,E, Bernier,R., Jeste,S(2021). Language and aggressive behaviors in male and female youth with autism spectrum disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 1-9.
  3. Nieforth,L.O.,Schwichtenberg,A.,& O’Haire,M. E. (2021).Animal-Assisted Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature from 2016 to 2020.Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-26.
  4. Nurenberg,J.R.,Schleifer,S.J.,Shaffer,T. M., Yellin,M.,Desai,P.J.,Amin,R.,Montalvo,C.(2015).Animal-assisted therapy with chronic psychiatric inpatients:equine-assisted sychotherapy and aggressive behavior. Psychiatric services, 66(1), 80-86.
  5. Pérez‐Gómez,J.,Amigo‐Gamero,H.,Collado‐Mateo,D.,Barrios‐Fernandez, S., Muñoz‐Bermejo,L.,Garcia‐Gordillo,M Á., Adsuar,J.C.(2021).Equine‐assisted activities and therapies in children

 

with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Asystematicreview.JournalofPsychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 28(6), 1079-1091.

  1. Peters, B. C., Wood, W., Hepburn, S., & Bundy, A. (2020). Pilot study: Occupational therapy in an equine environment for youth with autism. OTJR: occupation, participation and health, 40(3), 190-202.
  2. Peters, B. C., Wood, W., Hepburn, S., & Moody, E.J.(2021).Preliminary efficacy of occupational therapy in an equine environment for youth with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 1-15.
  3. Portela-Pino,I.,Bouzo-Gónzalez,S.,& Pino-Juste, M. (2019). Evaluation of an equine therapy program in students with Autism spectrum disorder.783-793.
  4. Safari Jafarloo,H.R;Bashiri,M;& Rahmaniyan Kooshkaki, M.A. (2020).The Effect of Spiritual Health on University Athlete Students’Sportsmanship with the Mediating Role of Aggression.Sport Psychology.Studies,9(33),65-88. .DOI:22089/spsyj.2020.8585.1928. )Persian(
  5. Saremian far, M., Movahedi, R., Rafie Boroujeni, M., Najafi, M.(2013).The effect of horse therapy on children with autism.Sc. Thesis, University of Isfahan. )persian(

 

 

  1. Saremian far, M., Movahedi, R., Rafie Borujeni, M.,Najafi,M.(2015)The effect of equestrian skills training on social interactions of children with autism spectrum disorders. . Motor Behavior, 7 (21), 33-46. )persian(
  2. Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Karazsia, B. T., Myers, R. E., Kim, E., Chan, J., Janson, M. (2019). Surfing the urge: An informal mindfulness practice for the self-management of aggression by adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 12, 170-177.
  3. Singh,N.N.,Lancioni,G.E.,Myers,R. E., Karazsia, B.T., McPherson, C. L., Jackman, M. M.,Thompson,T.(2018).EffectsofSOBER Breathing Space on aggression in children with autism spectrum disorder and collateral effects on parental use of physical restraints. Advances in Neuro developmental Disorders, 2(4), 362-374.
  4. Tao,S.Li,J.Zhang,M.,Zheng,P,Lau,E.Y.H.,Sun,J.&Zhu,Y(2021).TheEffectsofMindfulness-Based Interventions on Child and AdolescentAggression:aSystematicReview and Meta-Analysis.Mindfulness, 1-15.
  5. Taziki,T,Afrooz,GH.A.andGHasemzade.S(2015) The effectiveness

 

of equine therapy on the social skills of a child with autism.  Exceptional Education, 1 (129), 33-38. )persian(

  1. Torabi,A.,Ghorbani,M.,Karimabadi,M.(2017)The effect of music therapy on aggression in children with autism. Third National Conference on New Studies in the field of humanities and social studies in Iran -. in persian ) .persian(
  2. Vaez Baranji,M(2017).The Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Training on Psychological Disorder and Aggression in Adolescents with Autism. , M.Sc. Thesis, Mohaghegh Ardabili University. )persian(
  3. Wang,H.,Hu,X.,&Han,Z.R.(2020).Parentalstress, involvement, and family quality of life in mothers and fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder in mainland China: A dyadic analysis. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 107, 103791.
  4. Wang,H.,Hu,X.,&Han,Z.R.(2020).Parentalstress, involvement, and family quality of life in mothers and fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder in mainland China: A dyadic analysis. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 107, 103791.