Sentinels of Safety: Service Dogs Ensure Safety and Enhance Freedom and Well-Being for Families With Autistic Children
Sentinels of Safety: Service Dogs Ensure Safety and Enhance Freedom and Well-Being for Families With Autistic Children
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DOI：
10.1177/1049732308327088
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发表时间：
2008-12-01
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
Spiers, Jude
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Burrows, Kristen E.;Adams, Cindy L.;Spiers, Jude
自闭症儿童可能会表现出不可预测和反复无常的行为，使他们处于相当大的身体危险之中，并给家庭带来压力。自闭症儿童的家庭往往有有限的自由和经验与日常活动的困难。在这项定性行为学研究中，我们研究了将服务犬融入十个自闭症儿童家庭的效果。数据包括参与者观察，家庭-父母-狗互动的视频记录，以及与父母的半结构化访谈。主题是（a）狗作为安全的哨兵，（B）通过加强安全获得自由，促进公众外出和家庭活动，以及（c）提高社会认可和地位，其中狗的存在促进了对自闭症的认识并影响了社会互动。父母、自闭症儿童和服务犬之间的三元关系不断演变。这项研究为有兴趣为自闭症儿童提供服务犬的父母提供了有价值的信息，并对有特殊需要的儿童及其照顾者的长期人类动物陪伴具有影响。
Children with autism might display unpredictable and volatile behavior that places them in considerable physical danger and creates stress for the family. Families of autistic children often have limited freedom and experience difficulty with everyday activities. In this qualitative ethology study, we examined the effect of integrating service dogs into ten families with an autistic child. Data included participant observation, video recordings of family-parent-dog interaction, and semistructured interviews with the parents. The themes were (a) the dog as a sentinel of safety, (b) gaining freedom through enhanced safety, facilitating public outings and family activities, and (c) improving social recognition and status, in which the presence of the dog promoted awareness of autism and affected social interaction. The triadic relationship between parent, autistic child, and service dog constantly evolves. This research provides valuable information for parents interested in having a service dog for their autistic child, and has implications for long-term human-animal companionship for children with special needs and their caregivers.