Do you want to stay informed about this journal? Click the buttons to subscribe to our alerts.
The Role of the Eagala Model in Promoting Psychological Wellbeing in Adolescents: A Mixed-Methods Approach
In: Society & AnimalsAbstract
The aim of the study was to determine if the Eagala model, an equine-assisted intervention, would enhance the psychological wellbeing of adolescents living in a township in South Africa. An embedded mixed-methods research design with convenience sampling was used. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group participated in the Eagala intervention. The Ryff Scale of Psychological Wellbeing (RSPWB) was used to collect quantitative data while letters to the horses were used as qualitative data. Independent t-tests indicated significant differences between the two groups on the overall score of the RSPWB and five of its dimensions. Using thematic analysis, qualitative themes that enhanced understanding of the quantitative findings were identified. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the Eagala intervention. A Kruskal-Wallis test, however, indicated that between four to eight sessions need to be attended in order for the intervention to be effective.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
-
Anestis, M. D., Anestis, J. C., Zawilinski, L. L., Hopkins, T. A., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (2014). Equine‐related treatments for mental disorders lack empirical support: A systematic review of empirical investigations. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70(12), 1115–1132. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22113
-
Ayub, N., & Iqbal, S. (2012). The relationship of personal growth initiative, psychological wellbeing, and psychological distress among adolescents. Journal of Teaching and Education, 1(6), 101–107.
-
Bachi, K., & Parish-Plass, N. (2017). Animal-assisted psychotherapy: A unique relational therapy for children and adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 42(4), 3–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104516672549
-
Barnes, B. R. (2012). Using mixed methods in South African psychological research. South African Journal of Psychology, 22(1), 463–475. https://doi.org/10.1177/008124631204200402
-
Benesova, K., Kupcova, M., Vildova, L., Farkasova, K., Slezackova, A., & Malatincova, T. (2014). Naděje pro příští generaci: Psychosociální souvislosti naděje u dětí ve věku 8 až 12 let. [Hope for the next generation: The psychosocial context of hope in children aged 8 to 12 years] [Paper presentation]. Symposium on Hope, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.
-
Blau, I., Goldberg, S., & Benolol, N. (2019). Purpose and life satisfaction during adolescence: The role of meaning in life, social support, and problematic digital use. Journal of Youth Studies, 22(7), 907–925. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2018.1551614
-
Boshoff, C., Grobler, H., & Nienaber, A. (2015). The evaluation of an equine-assisted therapy programme with a group of boys in a youth care facility. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 25(1), 86–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2015.1007611
-
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
-
Burgon, H. L. (2011). Queen of the world: Experiences of ‘at-risk’ young people participating in equine-assisted learning/therapy. Journal of Social Work Practice, 25(02), 165–183. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2011.561304
-
Chandler, C. K. (2005). Animal assisted therapy in counselling. Routledge.
-
Chardonnens, E. (2009). The use of animals as co-therapists on a farm: The child – horse bond in person-centered equine-assisted psychotherapy. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 8(4), 319–332. https://doi.org/10.1080/14779757.2009.9688496
-
Cluver, L., Gardner, F., & Operario, D. (2009). Poverty and psychological health among aids-orphaned children in Cape Town, South Africa. AIDS Care, 21(6), 732–741. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540120802511885
-
Coetzee, N., Beukes, J. T., & Lynch, I. (2013). Substance abuse inpatients’ experience of animal-assisted therapy. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 23(3), 477–480. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2013.10820654
-
Coleman, V. (1999). Animal rights, human wrongs: A blueprint for a better society. Blue Books.
-
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage.
-
Cross, C. (2014). Qualitative assessment of the Diepsloot economy. In S. Mahajan (Ed.), Economics of South African townships: Special focus on Diepsloot. World Bank Studies (pp. 142–178). World Bank.
-
Dillman, D. (1999). Kids and critters: An intervention to violence. In F. Ascione & P. Arkow (Eds.), Child abuse, domestic violence & animal abuse: Linking the circles of compassion for prevention and intervention (pp. 424–432). Purdue University Press.
-
Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association [Eagala]. (2019). Fundamentals of Eagala model: Becoming an Eagala certified professional (9th ed.). Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.
-
Fabry, J. (1988). Guideposts to meaning, discovering what really matters. New Harbinger Publications.
-
Fernandes, H. M., Vasconcelos-Raposo, J., & Teixeira, C. M. (2010). Preliminary analysis of the psychometric properties of Ryff’s scales of psychological wellbeing in Portuguese adolescents. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 13(2), 1032–1043. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1138741600002675
-
Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. Sage.
-
Fine, A. H. (Ed.). (2015). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Foundations and guidelines for animal-assisted interventions. Academic Press.
-
Fournier, A., Letson, E., Berry, T., & Pasiuk, E. (2018). Human-animal interaction and metaphor in equine-assisted psychotherapy: Empirical support for the Eagala model. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 6(1), 47–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2016.1181372
-
Frankl, V. E. (1988). Man’s search for meaning. Penguin Group.
-
Gao, J., & Mclellan, R. (2018). Using Ryff’s scales of psychological wellbeing in adolescents in mainland China. Biomed Central Psychology, 6(17), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-018-0231-6
-
Garcia, D., Al Nima, A., & Kjell, O. N. E. (2014). The affective profiles, psychological wellbeing, and harmony: Environmental mastery and self-acceptance predict the sense of a harmonious life. PeerJ, 2, e259. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.259
-
Garcia, D. M. (2014). The paradox of otherness in horse-human connections: A Peircean interpretation [Poster presentation]. Semiotic Society of America 39th Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
-
Hill, N.R. (2007). Wilderness therapy as a treatment modality for at-risk youth: A primer for mental health counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 29(4), 338–349. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.29.4.c6121j162j143178
-
Hoagwood, K. E., Acri, M., Morrissey, M., & Peth-Pierce, R. (2016). Animal-assisted therapies for youth with or at risk for mental health problems: A systematic review. Applied Developmental Science, 21(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2015.1134267
-
Joffe, H. (2012). Thematic analysis. In D. Harper & A. Thompson (Eds.), Qualitative research methods in mental health and psychotherapy: A guide for students and practitioners (pp. 209–223). Wiley-Blackwell.
-
Kemp, K., Signal, T., Botros, H., Taylor, N., & Prentice, K. (2014). Equine facilitated therapy with children and adolescents who have been sexually abused: A program evaluation study. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23(3), 558–566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9718-1
-
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. https://doi.org/10.1080/13642537.2014.996169
-
Keyes, C. L. (2007). Promoting and protecting mental health as flourishing: A complementary strategy for improving national mental health. American Psychologist, 62(2), 95–108. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.2.95
-
Kruger, K. A., & Serpell, J. A. (2010). Animal-assisted interventions in mental health: Definitions and theoretical foundations. In A. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (Vol. 3, pp. 33–48). Academic Press.
-
Lentini, J. A., & Knox, M. (2009). A qualitative and quantitative review of equine facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) with children and adolescents. The Open Complementary Medicine Journal, 1(1), 51–57.
-
Lerner, R. M., & Galambos, N. L. (1998). Adolescent development: Challenges and opportunities for research, programs and policies. Annual Review of Psychology, 49, 413–446. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.49.1.413
-
Luby, J., Belden, A., Botteron, K., Marrus, N., Harms, M., Babb, C., Nishino, T., & Barch, D. (2013). The effects of poverty on childhood brain development. The mediating effect of caregiving and stressful life events. Journal of American Medical Association Paediatrics, 167(12), 1135–1142. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.3139
-
Mahajan, S. (2014). Economics of South African townships: Special focus on Diepsloot. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0301-7
-
Makwela, M. (2015). Diepsloot. Diepsloot Online. Retrieved from http://www.diepsloot.com/
-
Overton, W. F. (2010). Life-span development: Concepts and issues. In W. F. Overton (Ed.), Cognition, biology, and methods across the lifespan (Vol. 1, pp. 1–29). Wiley.
-
Pallant, J. (2016). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (6th ed.). Open University Press.
-
Pratt, M. G., & Dirks, K. T. (2007). Rebuilding trust and restoring positive relationships: A commitment-based view of trust. In J. E. Dutton & B. R. Ragins (Eds.), Lea’s organization and management series. Exploring positive relationships at work: Building a theoretical and research foundation (pp. 117–136). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
-
Ratele, K. (2007). Poverty and inequality. In M. Moleko & A. Visser (Eds.), Community psychology in South Africa (2nd ed., pp. 267–284). Van Schaik Publishers.
-
Rathi, N., & Rastogi, R. (2007). Meaning in life and psychological wellbeing in pre-adolescents and adolescents. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 33(1), 31–38.
-
Reddy, S. P., James, S., Sewpaul, R., Koopman, F., Funani, N. I., Sifunda, S., Josie, J., Masuka, P., Kambaran, N.S., & Omardien, R. G. (2010). Umthente uhlaba usamila: The South African youth risk behaviour survey 2008. South African Medical Research Council.
-
Roseberry, K. B., & Rovin, L. M. (1999). Animal-assisted therapy for sexually abused adolescent females. In F. Ascione & P. Arkow (Eds.), Child abuse, domestic violence & animal abuse: Linking the circles of compassion for prevention and intervention (pp. 433–442). Purdue University Press.
-
Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological wellbeing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069
-
Ryff, C. D. (1995). Psychological wellbeing in adult life. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4(4), 99–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep10772395
-
Ryff, C. D. (2014). Psychological wellbeing revisited: Advances in the science and practice of eudaimonia. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83(1), 10–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000353263
-
Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. (1995). The structure of psychological wellbeing revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719.
-
Sagone, E., & De Caroli, M. A. (2014). Relationships between psychological wellbeing and resilience in middle and late adolescents. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 141, 881–887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.05.154
-
Salotto, P. (1999). Making respect part of the curriculum. In F. Ascione & P. Arkow (Eds.), Child abuse, domestic violence & animal abuse: Linking the circles of compassion for prevention and intervention (pp. 443–449). Purdue University Press.
-
Schultz, P. N., Remick-Barlow, G. A., & Robbins, L. (2007). Equine-assisted psychotherapy: A mental health promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced intra-family violence. Health and Social Care in the Community, 15(3), 265–271. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2524.2006.00684.x
-
Selby, A., & Smith-Osborne, A. (2013). A systematic review of effectiveness of complementary and adjunct therapies and interventions involving equines. Health Psychology, 32(4), 418–432. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029188
-
Shamos, J. L. (2011). “Each one teach one”: Mental health awareness and suicide, a South African perspective. Retrieved from https://www.inter-disciplinary.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/shamosspaper.pdf
-
Slezackova, A. (2017) Hope and wellbeing: Psychosocial correlates and benefits. In C. Cefai & P. Cooper (Series Ed.), Resilience and Health Monograph Series: Vol. 4th. Fourth Monograph in Resilience and Health. Centre for Resilience and Socio-Emotional Health.
-
Smith-Osborne, A., & Selby, A. (2010). Implications of the literature on equine-assisted activities for use as a complementary intervention in social work practice with children and adolescents. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 27(4), 291–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-010-0201-1
-
Statistics South Africa. (2012). Statistical release (revised): Census 2011. Statistics South Africa.
-
Trotter, K. S., Chandler, C. K., Goodwin-Bond, D., & Casey, J. (2008). A comparative study of the efficacy of group equine assisted counseling with at-risk children and adolescents. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 3(3), 254–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401380802356880
-
Van Dierendonck, D. (2005). The construct validity of Ryff’s scales of psychological wellbeing and its extension with spiritual wellbeing. Personality and Individual Differences, 36(3), 629–643. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(03)00122-3
-
Vincent, A., & Farkas, K. J. (2017). Application of attachment theory to equine-facilitated therapy. Society Register, 1(1), 7–22.
-
Whittlesey-Jerome, W. K., Schultz, P. N., & Tomaka, J. (2016). Adding equine assisted psychotherapy to conventional treatment: A case study of adolescent resilience among charter high school students. Pediatrics & Therapeutics, 6(1), 280–290. https://doi.org/10,2161-0665
-
Wong, P. T. P. (1998). The human quest for meaning: Meaning-centred counseling. In P. T. P. Wong & P. S. Fry (Eds.), Theories of psychopathology and personality (1st ed., pp. 395–435). Erlbaum.
-
Wong, P. T. P. (2012). From logotherapy to meaning-centered counseling and therapy. In P. Wong (Ed.), The human quest for meaning: Theories, research, and applications (pp. 619–647). Routledge.
-
World Health Organization. (2014). Health for the world’s adolescents: A second chance in the second decade. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/adolescent/second-decade/section2/page1/recognizing-adolescence.html
-
Yeager, D. S., & Bundick, M. J. (2009). The role of purposeful work goals in promoting meaning in life and in schoolwork during adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Research, 24(4), 423–452. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558409336749
| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 331 | 331 | 37 |
| Full Text Views | 11 | 11 | 4 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 23 | 23 | 11 |
The Role of the Eagala Model in Promoting Psychological Wellbeing in Adolescents: A Mixed-Methods Approach
In: Society & AnimalsAbstract
The aim of the study was to determine if the Eagala model, an equine-assisted intervention, would enhance the psychological wellbeing of adolescents living in a township in South Africa. An embedded mixed-methods research design with convenience sampling was used. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group participated in the Eagala intervention. The Ryff Scale of Psychological Wellbeing (RSPWB) was used to collect quantitative data while letters to the horses were used as qualitative data. Independent t-tests indicated significant differences between the two groups on the overall score of the RSPWB and five of its dimensions. Using thematic analysis, qualitative themes that enhanced understanding of the quantitative findings were identified. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the Eagala intervention. A Kruskal-Wallis test, however, indicated that between four to eight sessions need to be attended in order for the intervention to be effective.
| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 331 | 331 | 37 |
| Full Text Views | 11 | 11 | 4 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 23 | 23 | 11 |