Parents' perspectives on equine-assisted occupational therapy intervention for their children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Abstract

This study examined how parents experienced the ASTride Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy intervention for their children with ADHD, and the meanings they ascribed to changes observed in their children and themselves. Thirteen parents of children aged 7-12 who completed the ASTride intervention participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. A grounded theory approach guided the analysis, which included open coding, category mapping, and thematic modeling to identify central processes across narratives. (1) Parents' perceived benefits for children including emotional growth, improved regulation, and the transfer of skills beyond the stable; (2) Benefits for parents such as active involvement, reflection, and enhanced parenting strategies; and (3) Environmental benefits highlighting the calming, sensory-rich nature of the stable and interaction with animals. Parents experienced ASTride as a transformative, family-centered intervention that supported children's regulation and participation while fostering parental insight and engagement. Interviewing parents provided unique insight into how therapeutic changes were recognized, interpreted, and generalized across home, school, and family contexts. These findings demonstrate that parents' perspectives can inform the refinement of Equine Assisted Occupational Therapy by highlighting the processes through which families perceive children's participation, strategy transfer, and engagement in everyday life.