Animal-assisted and nature-based intervention on a farm for young adults with autism and social withdrawal - A one-year follow-up with a socioeconomic approach.

Résumé

BACKGROUND: Interventions in the form of animal-assisted and nature-based activities are promising for young adults with autism, but there is a knowledge gap concerning the long-term values of these.AIM: The aim was to describe the activity levels in daily life and socioeconomic aspects for young adults with autism one year after a 12-week intervention with animal-assisted and nature-based activities.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative follow-up study with individual interviews was performed. Ten participants were interviewed with a focus on their life situation, activity levels, and need for further professional support after the intervention. Summative content analysis was used. The direct costs of the intervention were discussed in relation to the societal costs of social exclusion of young adults.FINDINGS: Seven of ten participants improved; two were in organized occupation, five reported partial improvement or increased daily life activities and three participants experienced no change. The direct cost for the intervention was modest. Disorganized professional support and waiting times in the welfare sector were perceived as stressful and hindering sustainable change.CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The animal-assisted and nature-based intervention facilitated increased daily activities for the participating young adults. The findings suggest that it is reasonable to investigate the possible socioeconomic implications of this type of intervention.