The population of the aged is growing in the modern society, and their health problems, economic difficulties, feeling of isolation, time of boredom are known to contribute to both increased level of depression and lowered self-esteem. Furthermore, the situation has been even worse for the elderly living alone in the relatively vulnerable environments. We studied the effects on the depression and self-esteem of female elderly living alone by the psychotherapy program using therapy bugs. This study examined the reactions of females elderly living alone before and after the introduction of psychotherapy program using therapy bugs. The participants in this study were 8 elderly living alone women. The experimental group was provided with 10 incidences of the developed psychotherapy program using therapy bugs. The pre and post-tests were analyzed with Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test using SPSS/WIN 19.0. The study found that the psychotherapy program using therapy bugs produced beneficial effects on the experiment group elderly living alone women; a better depression and self-esteem (p<0.05). In conclusion, the practice of psychotherapy program using therapy bugs was found effective in lowering depression of and improving self-esteem of the elders living alone. These findings indicate that the developed psychotherapy program using therapy bugs produced beneficial effects on the elderly.

We studied the beneficial effects of psychotherapy program using therapy bugs for children. This study examined the reactions of children before and after the introduction of psychotherapy program using therapy bugs. The participants in this study were 15 children among 3 grade classes from Gummorae elementary school in Siheung City. The experimental group was provided with 10 incidences of the developed psychotherapy program using therapy bugs. The pre and post-tests were analyzed with Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test using SPSS/WIN 19.0. The study found that the psychotherapy program using therapy bugs produced some beneficial effects on the experiment group children; a better life-respect, emotion, character and personality (p<0.05). These findings indicate that the developed psychotherapy program using therapy bugs produced beneficial effects on the children.

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of the influence of animal assisted therapy on elderly people's depression, stress and suicide ideation. The research was carried out in the order of preparatory conference, subject selection, composition of program plan, pre-test, AAT program, post-test, and processing of results during the period of March to November 2016. Seven elderly people considered in having depression and suicide probability as a result of selection test for life respect will was chosen from Goyangcity Daehwa Senior Welfare Center, province Gyunggi as the subjects for this research. The content of AAT program was implemented on the experiment group for a total of 12 sessions, 60 minutes once a week including pre-test and post-test. Elderly depression scale, Elderly stress scale, and Elderly suicide scale were used as research tools, and the results of pre- and post-test were analyzed. The findings of this research produce meaningful and positive result that the depression and stress level of subjects marked a lower score on the post-test compared to the pre-test, and that the score of suicide ideation marked a lower score on lower score on the post-test compared to the pre-test. This paper concludes that AAT test has a positive effect on the restraint of elderly people's depression, stress and suicide ideation.

This article provides a review of research published since 1990 on the beneficial effects and current situation of animal assisted education. Animal Assisted Education (AAE) is goal-directed interventions designed to promote improvement in cognitive functioning of the person(s) involved and in which a specially trained dog-handler team is an integral part of the educational process. AAE is directed and/or delivered by an educational professional with education, licensure, and specialized expertise and within the scope of education. AAE may be provided in a variety of settings, may be group or individual in nature and may be implemented for persons of any age. There are specific educational goals for each individual involved and the process is documented and evaluated. Future research employing more rigorous designs and systematically building upon a clearly defined line of inquiry is needed to advance our knowledge on the potential beneficial effects of the education programs trough animal-assisted intervention with animals.

본 연구는 동물매개교육 프로그램을 통한 초등학교 학생들의 심리･정서 치유 및 생 명·존중의식 향상이라는 주제로 2014년 3월1일부터 2015년 2월 28일까지 진행이 되었으며, 전교생 중에 동물매개교육을 희망하는 학생 14명을 선발하여 진행이 되었다. 연구도구로는 6개의 변수(불안, 우울, 품행장애, ADHD, 생명존중의식)에 대한 사전 사 후 검사를 별도 측정해 프로그램의 효과를 확인하고자 하였다. 연구방법으로는 사전· 사후검사를 통한 변화를 특정 하였다. 동물매개교육이 프로그램 참가 학생들의 심리· 정서 불안요인에 끼친 영향을 살펴 본 결과, 모든 영역에서 유의미한 차이가 나타났으며, 생명존중의식 또한 유의미한 결과가 나타났다. 이번 사례를 통해 동물매개교육프 로그램이 초등학생들에게 긍정적인 영향을 미친다는 사실을 알 수 있었다.

This article provides the case study report of Animal Assisted Therapy(AAT) in Hongcheon Elementary School. The program was conducted for once a week a total of 15 session form July to September and performed with 8 Students from the first grade to the fifth grade, 3 AAT therapists, 3 assistant therapists, 3 pet partners and 3 therapy dogs. The AAT program was titled as “Happy You & I with companion dogs” and performed for 3 school grade groups. The content of AAT program was designed to improve main psychological issues of students in 3 groups. 5 sessions of a total 15 sessions was conducted for a integrated group and other 10 sessions was for each group. STAIC, HTP and KFD were done as assessment scales for the first and the second grade students and Self-concept scale, CDI-C, STAIC, HTP, KFD and SCT was done for the fourth and the fifth grade students. As the results of pre-and post-test, We found the positive improvement in psychological symptoms of students.