Important elements in farm animal-assisted interventions for persons with clinical depression: a qualitative interview study

Abstract

Purpose: The main aim of this study was to obtain participants’ own experience of a farm animal-assisted intervention, and what they perceived as important elements in relation to their mental health. Method: A qualitative study, inspired by a phenomenological-hermeneutical perspective was conducted. Eight persons with clinical depression who had completed a 12-week farm animal-assisted intervention at a dairy farm participated in thematic interviews between May and June 2009. Results: The intervention was regarded as a positive experience for the participants. The analyses revealed that central elements in the intervention were the possibility to experience an ordinary work life, but also the importance of a distraction to their illness. Furthermore, the flexibility of the intervention made it possible to adjust the intervention to the participants’ shifting reality and was thereby a key element in farm animal-assisted intervention. The flexibility and adapted work tasks were important elements that the participants associated with their experience of coping. A model showing the interaction between the different elements reported as important by the participants was constructed. Conclusions: This study shows that a farm animal-assisted intervention could be a supplement in mental health rehabilitation. All the elements in our model could possibly influence positively on mental health.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Depression causes decreased quality of life and impairment, and in Western countries depression represents a major cause for sick leave and work disability.

• During rehabilitation, farm animal-assisted interventions may be beneficial for persons with depression.

• The possibility to experience an ordinary work setting was important for the participants, but also that the intervention acted as a distraction to their illness.

• The participants described the flexibility and possibility to experience coping as central elements in the intervention.

Keywords::

• Depression
• farm animal-assisted intervention
• Green care
• mental health

Acknowledgments

We thank the farmers who facilitated the intervention, participants in the project for their cooperation and Silje Liastøl for her work with transcribing the audiotapes.

Declaration of Interest: The study was funded by grant number 173302/I10 from the Research Council of Norway. The authors report no conflict of interest.