AOA-OMED Research Posters 2024-OMED24-POSTERS

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Madison Kraft, a medical student, presented research on the impact of equine-assisted services (EAS) on stress levels of parents with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study recruited 13 parents participating in therapeutic writing at HALTR. Using the DAS-21 questionnaire, findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in parental stress post-intervention, while changes in depression and anxiety were not significant. The research underscores the potential of EAS in alleviating stress in parents of children with special needs, highlighting the importance of broader accessibility and further studies to enhance caregiver support.

Keywords

equine-assisted services

autism spectrum disorder

parental stress

therapeutic riding

caregiver support