Project Stride: An Equine-Assisted Intervention to Reduce Symptoms of Social Anxiety in Young Women

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• 作者：Sarah V. Alfonso ; BA¹ ; ^{s.alfonso1@umiami.edu" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; ^{sarahalfonso7@yahoo.com" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Lauren A. Alfonso ; MS² ; Maria M. Llabre ; PhD¹ ; M. Isabel Fernandez ; PhD³
• 关键词：Equine-assisted activities ; Social anxiety ; Theory-based intervention ; Young women
• 刊名：EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing
• 出版年：2015
• 出版时间：November-December 2015
• 年：2015
• 卷：11
• 期：6
• 页码：461-467
• 全文大小：131 K

文摘

Although there is evidence supporting the use of equine-assisted activities to treat mental disorders, its efficacy in reducing signs and symptoms of social anxiety in young women has not been examined.

Method

We developed and pilot tested Project Stride, a brief, six-session intervention combining equine-assisted activities and cognitive-behavioral strategies to reduce symptoms of social anxiety. A total of 12 women, 18–29 years of age, were randomly assigned to Project Stride or a no-treatment control. Participants completed the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale at baseline, immediate-post, and 6 weeks after treatment.

Results

Project Stride was highly acceptable and feasible. Compared to control participants, those in Project Stride had significantly greater reductions in social anxiety scores from baseline to immediate-post [decrease of 24.8 points; t (9) = 3.40, P = .008)] and from baseline to follow-up [decrease of 31.8 points; t (9) = 4.12, P = .003)].

Conclusion

These findings support conducting a full-scale efficacy trial of Project Stride.