Effects of Dog-Based Animal-Assisted Interventions in Prison Population: A Systematic Review
by
,
Beatriz Villafaina-Domínguez
1, 
Daniel Collado-Mateo
2,*
,
Eugenio Merellano-Navarro
3 and 
Santos Villafaina
4
1
Instituto de Mediación y Conciliación (IMECO), 46010 Valencia, Spain
2
Centre for Sport Studies, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28943 Fuenlabrada, Spain
3
Grupo de Investigacion EFISAL, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca 3460000, Chile
4
Physical Activity and Quality of Life Research Group (AFYCAV), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10004 Cáceres, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2129; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112129
Submission received: 16 October 2020
/
Revised: 4 November 2020
/
Accepted: 13 November 2020
/
Published: 16 November 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coping, Stress and Crisis Response within the Field of Human Animal Interactions)
Simple Summary
Inmates usually suffer from depression, anxiety, or loss of empathy. Thus, animal-assisted therapies, and in concrete dog-based assisted therapy, were introduced in prisons in order to ameliorate the consequences of being into prison. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide an up-to-date analysis of the research on the effects of dog-based animal-assisted therapy in the prison population. Results showed that mental health, emotional control, empathy, or academic skills could be improved after dog-based assisted therapy. Most of the studies included activities related to dog training, dog caring, or activities. The duration of dog-based therapies ranged between 60 and 120 min, with the frequency being between 1 and 3 days/week. In conclusion, these potential enhancements might lead to a reduction in recidivism and violence.
Abstract
Background: Animal-assisted interventions, in concrete dog-assisted intervention, have been introduced in prisons to reduce recidivism as well as to improve the well-being of prisoners. Therefore, the aim of the present systematic review is to provide an up-to-date analysis of the research on the effects of dog-based animal-assisted therapy in prison population. Methods: An electronic search of the literature was performed, and 20 articles were included. The PRISMA guideline methodology was employed. Results: Included studies involved a total of 1577 participants. The vast majority of protocols included activities related with dog training, dog caring, or activities, which included vocational or educational components. Duration of dog-based therapies ranged between 60 and 120 min, with the frequency being between 1 and 3 days/week. Statistically significant improvements in prisoners were observed in 13 studies. Conclusions: Dog-based animal-assisted therapy may improve anxiety, stress, recidivism, and other social variables in male or female inmates.
Keywords:
inmates; prison; animal-assisted therapy; dog therapy; anxiety; stress; recidivism
