Phenomenological study exploring the perspectives of caregivers understanding how hippotherapy contributes to social participation among children with ADHD and ASD, 2025

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis McN

Identifier: b7932388

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

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The collection consists of dissertations written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate Occupational Therapy program. The holdings are primarily bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree.

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and School of Education, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2025

Creator

McNair, Brianna L. (2001- ) (Author, Person)
Garcia, Andrea (Thesis advisor, Person)
Halliwell, Nicole (1987- ) (Thesis advisor, Person)
Patro, John (1985- ) (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (732-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Patrons must sign a completed Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to obtain access to the collection. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Full Extent

1 Items (print book) : 41 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Importance: Illuminate the caregiver perspective of hippotherapy intervention as it relates to social participation and social skills among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Objective: The purpose of this study is to understand the experience of caregivers of children with ADHD/ASD related to their child’s occupational therapy services at a nature-based clinic. incorporating hippotherapy intervention with social participation and social skills.

Design: A phenomenological, qualitative study with a community population.

Setting: Nature-based pediatric outpatient clinic offering occupational, physical, and speech therapy services.

Participants: Four caregivers of children with ASD or ADHD diagnoses participated. Results: Thematic analysis from the Moustakas approach was utilized through manual coding to identify key themes, while member checking and triangulation were completed to ensure reliability and validity. Five themes emerged: (1) uncertainty, (2) difficult, (3) powerful, (4) easier, and (5) exceeding expectations leading to the essence statement: We were struggling, I didn’t know what to expect. It was life-changing, things became easier… there's magic within the horse.

Conclusion/Relevance: The research explored caregiver perspectives regarding hippotherapy intervention and their child’s social participation and social skills. This project demonstrates the need for further investigation of the caregiver perspective since they are the primary facilitators for social participation among children.

Keywords: hippotherapy intervention, caregiver perspective, social participation, children, ADHD, ASD, phenomenological analysis, occupational therapy.

Partial Contents

Abstract -- Acknowledgments -- Table of contents -- Introduction -- Literature review -- Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- Conclusion -- Reflection -- References -- Appendices.