Effects of animal-assisted therapy on depressive and anxiety symptoms in institutionalized elderly people

Effects of animal-assisted therapy on depressive and anxiety symptoms in institutionalized elderly people

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22298/rfs.2025.v13.n1.8606

Keywords:

Animal-Assisted Therapy, Homes for the Aged, Depressive symptoms, Anxiety disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a therapeutic intervention that involves interactions between a patient and an animal together with a therapist. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects of animal-assisted therapy on depressive and anxiety symptoms in institutionalized elderly people. Methodology: This is a quantitative, almost experimental study. The research was carried out in two long-term care institutions. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), a general data questionnaire, the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) were used as analysis instruments. The elderly people included were divided into two groups: experimental group, in which participants were exposed to AAT during eight weeks of intervention and with sessions lasting approximately one hour, and control group, which received guidance on how to remain active. Results: Pre- and post-intervention assessments show that AAT significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression after eight weeks. Conclusion: Contact with animals is a therapeutic resource that can be used to improve the mental health of institutionalized elderly people.

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Author Biographies

Bruna Valéria Ramos, Fisioterapeuta de la Universidad Comunitaria de la Región de Chapecó

Physiotherapist from the Community University of the Chapecó Region, Chapecó, SC, Brasil.

Márcia Regina da Silva, Teacher of the physiotherapy course at the Community University of the Chapecó Region

PhD in Health Sciences from the Community University of the Chapecó Region. Professor of the undergraduate program in Physiotherapy at the Community University of the Chapecó Region.

Maria de Fátima Ferretti, Psychologist from the Catholic University of Pelotas, RS

Psychologist from the Catholic University of Pelotas. Resident in Oncological Psychology at Hospital Conceição- Porto Alegre- RS.

Lilian Marin Lunelli, Professor of the Physiotherapy Course at the Community University of the Chapecó Region (UNOCHAPECÓ)

Master's degree in Human Aging from the University of Passo Fundo, RS. Specialist in Cardiorespiratory and Vascular Physiotherapy from the Brazilian Center for Systemic Studies (CBES) in Curitiba, PR. Specialist in Acupuncture from the Integrated Center for Human Studies and Research (CIEPH) in Florianópolis, SC. Professor of the Physiotherapy Program at the Community University of the Chapecó Region (UNOCHAPECÓ). Researcher in the Human Aging and Health Research Group (UNOCHAPECÓ/CNPq).

Fátima Kremer Ferretti, Teacher of the physiotherapy course at the Community University of the Chapecó Region

Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Porto, Portugal. PhD in Health Sciences from the Federal University of São Paulo. Permanent professor in the Stricto Sensu Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences at the Community University of the Chapecó Region. Leader of the Human Aging and Health Research Group. Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal FisiSenectus.

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Published

2025-10-21

How to Cite

POTRICH GUARDA MICHELS, E.; VALÉRIA RAMOS, B.; DA SILVA, M. R.; FERRETTI, M. de F.; MARIN LUNELLI, L.; KREMER FERRETTI, F. Effects of animal-assisted therapy on depressive and anxiety symptoms in institutionalized elderly people: Effects of animal-assisted therapy on depressive and anxiety symptoms in institutionalized elderly people. FisiSenectus Journal, Chapecó, Brasil, v. 13, n. 1, p. 53–70, 2025. DOI: 10.22298/rfs.2025.v13.n1.8606. Disponível em: http://pegasus.unochapeco.edu.br/revistas/index.php/fisisenectus/article/view/8606. Acesso em: 5 dec. 2025.

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2025): Jan/Dez

Section

Artigos

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Emanuela Potrich Guarda Michels, Bruna Valéria Ramos, Fátima Kremer Ferretti, Márcia Regina da Silva, Maria de Fátima Ferretti, Lilian Marin Lunelli

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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