This thesis deals with the subject of keeping and using animals in primary schools. The theoretical part of this thesis reviews various scientific studies into the impact of animals on pupils during education and the possible benefits of animal breeding in schools. Furthermore, the conditions for safe breeding and the most frequently kept animals in schools are discussed as well as the risks and difficulties that their breeding and daily maintenance brings. Moreover, it discusses the need to evaluate the welfare of school animals and legislative precautions on the subject in the Czech Republic. The practical part of this thesis details investigations into the number of Prague primary schools where animals were kept in the school year 2017/2018. Through interviewing a representative sample of schools, it was found that 37 % of Prague's primary schools kept an animal. Furthermore, the different species of animals kept in the schools, their location within the schools, the person bearing responsibility for the animals and the usage and the frequency of it within the curriculum were studied. It was found that 52 % of teachers do not use the school animal more often than once a month. Another subject of the research was to find out the reasons for the absence of animals in schools; 92 % of respondents...

The importance of stress management is emphasized throughout this study as well as the need to cater stress management programmes to the unique needs of individuals. The possibility of introducing an animal-assisted stress management programme into the work environment is explored by means of a qualitative study in order to test out the feasibility of such an intervention. The positive physical and psychological effects animals have on humans has been extensively researched and reported. Eleven participants were randomly chosen from within the same department by means of purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were held with each participant and thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcribed interviews. Various themes were identified and explored with the most prominent highlighting the need for privacy, respect and connection. Although animals do have positive effects on some employees, there are individual differences that need to be considered. An electronic animal-assisted stress management intervention is recommended. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

<p>An increasing number of individuals with physical disabilities or mental disorders are incorporating specially trained service dogs as an assistance aid to improve functionality. In addition to the tasks that service dogs are rained for, studies also suggest that service dogs may benefit psychosocial health and wellbeing. However, current knowledge on these potential benefits is limited by methodological weaknesses without multi-method assessment. There remains a need for empirical and replicable quantification the psychosocial outcomes of service dog assistance and companionship.</p><p>The objective of Chapters 1-3 was to summarize, evaluate, and quantify the effects of service dogs on psychosocial health among individuals with physical disabilities. Chapter 1 conducted a systematic literature review of N=24 articles describing the effects of guide, hearing, mobility, and medical service dogs on standardized measures of psychosocial functioning. Chapters 2 and 3 conducted an empirical investigation using quantitative and qualitative methods to quantify the psychosocial effects of mobility and medical service dogs among N=154 individuals with physical disabilities. Results identified specific psychological, social, and emotional benefits that are associated with having an assistance dog or service dog among diverse populations with physical disabilities or chronic conditions.</p><p>The objective of Chapters 4-6 was to quantify the role of psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 military veterans with PTSD. Chapter 4 quantified the perceived importance, frequency of use, and therapeutic value of service dog behaviors for N=216 military veterans with PTSD. Chapters 5 and 6 then quantified the effects that PTSD service dogs on psychosocial outcomes and physiological indicators of functioning, respectively, among a sample of N=141 military veterans with PTSD. Results identified therapeutic components, tangible psychosocial benefits, and potential physiological mechanisms of psychiatric service dogs for military veterans with PTSD.</p>Overall, this research combined quantitative, qualitative, and physiological measurement to describe outcomes of service dog pairings in two different at-risk populations. Results provide non-causational evidence of psychosocial benefits from service dogs for individuals with physical disabilities or mental disorders. Findings provide a basis for further large-scale research to disentangle active components of the assistance dog-human partnership and identify potential mediating variables of effects.

<p>Psychiatric assistance dogs for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) currently make up over 19% of assistance dog partnerships globally. We conducted a systematic review of the literature relating to these partnerships, with specific aims to (1) summarize their characteristics, (2) evaluate the quality of existing evidence, and (3) summarize outcomes. A total of 432 records were independently screened (Cohen’s kappa=0.90). Of these, 41 articles (29 peer-reviewed publications and 12 unpublished dissertations) met inclusion criteria. Data extraction was conducted to address the research aims, including a meta-analysis (quantitative outcomes) and meta-synthesis (qualitative outcomes). All peer-reviewed publications on the topic of psychiatric assistance dogs for veterans with PTSD were published within the last five years. The majority of included articles were quantitative (53%), 41% were qualitative, and 6% employed mixed methods. Mean methodological rigor scores were 80% for peer reviewed articles and 71% for dissertations, where higher scores represent more rigorous methodology. Quantitative articles reported significant improvements in the domains of PTSD severity, mental health, and social health. Impacts on physical health and global quality of life appear inconclusive. Meta-analysis (9 articles) revealed that partnership with an assistance dog had a clinically meaningful, significant, and large effect on PTSD severity scores (<em>g</em>=−1.129; <em>p</em><0.0001). Qualitative meta-synthesis identified two third order constructs: (1) Impact on the individual: mental & physical health and (2) Impact beyond the individual: building relationships & connection. This synthesis of increasingly prevalent research on assistance dogs for veterans with PTSD provides support for the impact of this complementary and integrative health intervention on PTSD symptom severity, and signs of meaningful improvements in adjacent domains including mental and social health. Gaps between quantitative and qualitative findings, along with the need to report greater demographic detail, highlight key opportunities for future research.</p>