Healing Through Paws: How Animal-Assisted Interventions Benefit Military Families

by Jon Scaccia May 28, 2024

Imagine you’re a pet owner who notices how your furry friend senses when you’re upset, offering comfort with a nuzzle or a wagging tail. Now, consider how powerful that bond could be for a family facing the unique stresses of military life. A recent study delves into how Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) can significantly enhance the well-being of military families, offering both emotional support and fostering resilience.

Understanding Military Families’ Unique Challenges

Military families, including service members, veterans, and their immediate relatives, face distinctive challenges. The rigorous training, deployments, and transitions back to civilian life can create emotional and mental health issues for both veterans and their families. The constant upheaval and separation often lead to feelings of isolation, stress, and anxiety.

Military spouses often bear a heavy emotional burden, supporting their partners through new health challenges while managing their own mental health. They may experience depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and secondary posttraumatic stress. Frequent relocations can disrupt their careers and social lives, exacerbating feelings of isolation and instability.

Children in military families also face unique hardships. Frequent moves and parental absences can disrupt their schooling and social lives, leading to decreased academic performance and mental health issues. If a parent is injured in combat, the psychological impact on children can be profound, often resulting in increased anxiety and behavioral problems.

The Promise of Animal-Assisted Interventions

Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) involve incorporating animals into therapeutic processes. These interventions can range from equine-assisted services (EAS) to service dog placements. The human-animal bond formed during these interactions can mirror attachment bonds, providing emotional support and fostering resilience.

Equine-Assisted Services

Equine-assisted services involve interactions with horses and can range from non-riding activities to therapeutic riding. These services have shown promise in improving interpersonal relationships, reducing relationship problems, and enhancing communication within military families. Participants have reported mental health benefits, such as reduced depressive symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Service Dogs

Service dogs, trained to assist veterans with specific tasks, live with the family, providing continuous support. Studies have shown that service dogs can increase the number of activities spouses are involved in and promote positive emotions. They help create a “relational bridge,” reducing PTSD symptoms, increasing resilience, and improving relationship functioning. Service dogs also foster a sense of communal orientation, enhancing the overall quality of life for both veterans and their spouses.

The Impact on Family Dynamics

The presence of service dogs and participation in equine-assisted services extend benefits to the entire family. These interventions help reduce stress, improve communication, and enhance overall family functioning. For instance, service dogs not only assist veterans but also engage with all family members, creating a ripple effect of positivity and support.

Key Findings and Future Directions

The systematic review of AAIs for military families highlights several key findings:

1. Positive Impacts: Both equine-assisted services and service dogs have shown significant positive impacts on the mental health and interpersonal relationships of military families.
2. Limited Negative Impacts: The review found minimal negative impacts, suggesting that AAIs are generally well-received and beneficial.
3. Need for Further Research: While the current literature is promising, more research is needed to explore other types of AAIs and their long-term effects on military families.

Bridging Gaps in Research

Despite the promising findings, the literature reveals several gaps. There is a lack of studies focusing on the bi-directional influence of one family member’s outcomes on another. Future research should consider the whole family unit, rather than focusing solely on veterans. Additionally, randomized clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy of AAIs compared to other family-focused interventions.

Practical Implications for Pet Owners

If you’re a pet owner and part of a military family, the implications of this research are profound. It highlights the potential for your pet to play a therapeutic role, not just as a companion but as an active participant in your family’s emotional well-being. Whether through formal AAIs or the everyday bond you share, your pet can contribute significantly to coping with the stresses of military life.

Encouraging Resilience Through Animals

The resilience of military families is often tested, but AAIs offer a unique approach to fostering emotional and mental health. By integrating animals into therapeutic processes, these interventions provide a source of comfort, stability, and connection that can make a tangible difference in the lives of military families.

Let us know in the comments!

1. How has your pet helped you cope with stressful situations or major life changes?
2. What are some ways you think pets can be integrated into family therapy to support military families?