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Review
. 2020 Nov 16;10(11):2129.
doi: 10.3390/ani10112129.

Effects of Dog-Based Animal-Assisted Interventions in Prison Population: A Systematic Review

Beatriz Villafaina-Domínguez  1 , Daniel Collado-Mateo  2 , Eugenio Merellano-Navarro  3 , Santos Villafaina  4
Affiliations
Review

Effects of Dog-Based Animal-Assisted Interventions in Prison Population: A Systematic Review

Beatriz Villafaina-Domínguez et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Animal-assisted interventions, in concrete dog-assisted intervention, have been introduced in prisons to reduce recidivism as well as to improve the well-being of prisoners. Therefore, the aim of the present systematic review is to provide an up-to-date analysis of the research on the effects of dog-based animal-assisted therapy in prison population.

Methods: An electronic search of the literature was performed, and 20 articles were included. The PRISMA guideline methodology was employed.

Results: Included studies involved a total of 1577 participants. The vast majority of protocols included activities related with dog training, dog caring, or activities, which included vocational or educational components. Duration of dog-based therapies ranged between 60 and 120 min, with the frequency being between 1 and 3 days/week. Statistically significant improvements in prisoners were observed in 13 studies.

Conclusions: Dog-based animal-assisted therapy may improve anxiety, stress, recidivism, and other social variables in male or female inmates.

Keywords: animal-assisted therapy; anxiety; dog therapy; inmates; prison; recidivism; stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart for selection of studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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