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2025 Vol.1, Issue 2

Research Article

The efficacy of animal-assisted activities in reducing depression and promoting emotional well-being among institutionalized elderly
So-Jeong Shin13†
,
Seong-Hyeok Im2†
,
Ji-Eun Yang1
,
Sang-Hwan Kim13*
1School of Animal Life Science, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea
2General Graduate School of Department of Child and Family Welfare, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea
3Institute of Applied Humanimal Science, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
30 June 2025. pp. 51-58
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Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in reducing depression among elderly individuals living in nursing homes. Fourteen participants were selected and divided into an experimental group (n=7) and a comparison group (n=7). The experimental group participated in a 12-week AAT program, with one 60-minute session per week from September to December 2024. Depression levels were assessed before and after the intervention using a standardized depression scale. The results demonstrated that the experimental group showed a significant reduction in depression compared to the comparison group, which received no intervention. These findings suggest that AAT can be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving mental health in elderly individuals by alleviating depression and promoting emotional well-being. Furthermore, AAT may play a crucial role in mitigating social isolation, ultimately enhancing life satisfaction and supporting reintegration into society. Future research should explore long-term effects and broader applications of AAT in elderly care settings.

Keywords
Animal-assisted therapy
Elderly depression
Elderly people living alone
Social isolation
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Information
  • Publisher :Journal of Humanimal Sciences
  • Publisher(Ko) :한경국립대학교 휴머니멀응용과학연구소
  • Journal Title :Journal of Humanimal Sciences
  • Journal Title(Ko) :휴머니멀과학학술지
  • Volume : 1
  • No :2
  • Pages :51-58
  • Received Date : 2025-04-14
  • Accepted Date : 2025-04-23
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.23341/jhas.2025.1.2.51
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