Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Smith, Marlaine
Abstract
Although there appears to be heightened awareness of the alarming rise in adolescent mental health concerns, treatment initiation and adherence to traditional therapies remains low. Nurses are at the forefront of exploring innovative youth-friendly therapeutic options that engage adolescents who otherwise may be reluctant to care. Human-animal interactions (HAIs) are alternative approaches where animals are integrated as therapeutic partners to help break down barriers, build trust, uncover meaning, and foster transformation. Equine-assisted learning (EAL), a type of HAI, was the focus of this research. This study explored the lived experience of adolescents who participated in an equine-assisted learning program guided through the lens of the theory of unitary caring and the hermeneutic-phenomenological unitary-caring research method. Eleven participants between the ages of 11-19 were interviewed. The outcomes of improved self-confidence, better mood, healthier relationships, and an optimistic outlook were supported by the literature. Six essences evolved from the narratives: troubled by turbulent connections; embracing uncertainty and vulnerability; awakening to the shared human-horse condition; attuning as one; engaging harmonically; and cultivating peace and joy. These essences, blended with the theory of unitary caring, led to the discovery of the antecedents of transformational change defined in the conceptual representation of the Unitary Caring Relatedness Model. These findings contribute to nursing and HAI literature and suggest a model that may be implemented in adolescent practice.
Extent
191 p.
Recommended Citation
Mygatt, Marla G., "Adolescents’ Equine-Assisted Experiences from a Unitary Caring Perspective" (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present. 1109.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/1109
Identifier
FA00014149
Comments
Includes bibliography.|Dissertation (PhD)--Florida Atlantic University, 2023.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.