Forensic Interviews for Child Sexual Abuse Allegations: An Investigation into the Effects of Animal-Assisted Intervention on Stress Biomarkers

Abstract

The use of therapy animals during forensic interviews for child sexual abuse allegations is a recommendation by the Therapy Animals Supporting Kids Program to help ease children’s discomfort during the forensic interview process. Based on this recommendation, this study incorporated a certified therapy canine into the forensic interview process for child sexual abuse allegations. This study investigated changes in salivary cortisol, immunoglobulin A, blood pressure, and heart rate as a result of forensic interview phenomenon (e.g., outcry) incorporating animal-assisted intervention versus a control condition in children (N = 42) interviewed for alleged child sexual abuse. The results supported significantly greater heart rate values for the control group (n = 23) who experienced sexual contact and/or indecency than the experience of aggravated sexual assault compared to no difference in HR for the intervention group (n = 19). The results suggest that the presence of the canine in the forensic interview may have acted as a buffer or safeguard for the children when disclosing details of sexual abuse. In the intervention group, children’s HR was lower at the start of the forensic interview compared to the control group. Finding an effect of having a certified handler–canine team available during the forensic interview on physiological measures of stress has real-world value for children, child welfare personnel, and clinical therapists. It is suggested that animal-assisted intervention be expanded to children facing other types of trauma and to treatment programs for child survivors of sexual abuse.

Keywords:

• child advocacy center
• cortisol
• immunoglobulin A
• therapy dog

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Acknowledgments go out to Diana Davis, LMSW, director of clinical services, Alliance for Children Child Advocacy Center, as well as to the children who participated in this study, volunteer handler canine teams, forensic interviewers, and research assistants.

Additional information

Funding

Research was supported in part by the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS)/American Nurses Foundation Grant and Kean University Faculty Foundation Research Awards.

Notes on contributors

Cheryl A. Krause-Parello

Cheryl A. Krause-Parello PhD, RN, is an associate professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her current research interests focus on the use and effectiveness of animal assisted intervention in vulnerable populations. She received her PhD from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Elsie E. Gulick

Elsie E Gulick PhD, RN, FAAN, is a professor emeritus in the College of Nursing at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Her current research focuses on statistical assistance for nurse researchers. She received her PhD in nursing research from New York University.