Animal Assisted Interventions in the Green Care Framework: A Literature Review

Abstract

Green Care (GC) and Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) are recognised practices useful to enhance the wellbeing of people through interaction with nature and animals. This study aims at understanding the interconnections between GC and AAI by analysing deeply which interaction with animals is conducted. Therefore, we carried out a literature search through Web of Science and Google Scholar that allowed retrieval of 993 records; after the PRISMA selection process, 42 were included. Relevant information was extracted: year of publication, geographical location, objectives, settings in agricultural environment, animal species, characteristics of users involved, type of human–animal interaction, coexistence of other activities without animals, animal health and welfare issues. From the review emerged that research on GC with animals is common in high-income countries and that the line between AAI and occupational therapy is often vague. Moreover, the most common setting for these interventions appears to be the farm, and frequently animals involved are not selected according to their ethological characteristics. Users in this context are extremely various and not only involved in activities with animals. Within the included studies, we noted a lack in the consideration of animal welfare that indicates the need for increased awareness among practitioners and a more ethical approach when animals are involved.

Addressing ethical issues in outdoor health practice: a scoping review

“…Long, 1993;Moriggi et al, 2020;Pearce, 2018;Stålhammar & Thorén, 2019), care farming (Taranrød et al, 2021), and green care practices (rewilding, ecotourism, therapeutic horticulture, and more) (Moriggi et al, 2020;Stålhammar & Thorén, 2019). Additional approaches found in the scoping reviewing included: animal assisted therapy (Galardi et al, 2021); experiential learning (Bradford, 2019;Haber & Deaton, 2019;Kolb & Kolb, 2018), and outdoor occupational therapy. Overall, the diversity of practice present within OH may form one of the sectors most significant defining features.…”

“…Competence-related ethical issues included values, attitudes, knowledges, and skills. Values and attitudes toward practice included such things as an orientation towards social, cultural, and ecological justice (Plesa, 2019), ecological orientation to practice (Benz et al, 2022;Galardi et al, 2021;Hall, 2019;Harper & Fernee, 2022;King et al, 2022;Lokugamage et al, 2020;Pearce, 2018;Plesa, 2019;Reese, 2018), valuing diversity and inclusion (King & McIntyre, 2018), intentionality (Hooley, 2016;Jeffery & Wilson, 2017;King & McIntyre, 2018;King et al, 2022;Pearce, 2018;Reese, 2018), heart (Moriggi et al, 2020;Pearce, 2018), and humility (Lokugamage et al, 2020;Tujague & Ryan, 2021).…”

“…This review highlighted the importance of several broad value positions that appear to be taken up by many authors. Ecological sustainability and pro-environmental attitudes (Benz et al, 2022;Galardi et al, 2021;Hall, 2019;Harper & Fernee, 2022;King et al, 2022;Lokugamage et al, 2020;Pearce, 2018;Plesa, 2019;Reese, 2018); culturally diverse and appropriate health practices (Drost, 2019;King et al, 2022;Ljubicic et al, 2021;Lokugamage et al, 2020;Tujague & Ryan, 2021); and, the value of program co-design and tailoring services to particular individual and group needs (Harper & Fernee, 2022;Hooley, 2016;Lokugamage et al, 2020;Moriggi et al, 2020). In some instances, these values have led to tension or values conflicts (Bradford, 2019; King & McIntyre, 2018;King et al, 2022;Lokugamage et al, 2020;Moriggi et al, 2020;Pearce, 2018;Reese, 2018).…”

Sharing the space of the creature: Intersubjectivity as a lens toward mutual human–wildlife dignity

“…For example, the study of human–animal interactions/animal–assisted interventions focuses on health benefits that human persons derive from direct engagement with animals, usually domesticated species such as dogs (Furst, 2016; Vitztum, 2013). The field of green care examines the benefits of time spent in nature including animal encounters (Galardi et al, 2011). Broader perspectives include biodiversity and health, which are concerned with how human activities influence species extinction and the negative consequences for ecosystems (Chivian & Bernstein, 2008).…”

Challenges and Perspectives of Social Farming in North-Eastern Italy: The Farmers’ View

“…Despite the regulation and the advantages offered by Green Care [14,15], Italian farmers interested in developing or implementing new approaches to services such as social farms [16] and AAI activities [17] cannot benefit from a shared educational path. Furthermore, even if farms have the nominal possibility to integrate themselves with the healthcare system, supporting services that are reduced because of the lack of funding, this hardly ever happens in practice [3].…”