Skip to Content

Human-Animal-Environment Interactions in Youth Development

Back to Research Projects

Author:

Kevin Nolan Morris

PIs:

Kevin Morris, Research Associate Professor and American Humane Endowed Chair

CO-Investigator(s):

Associate Professor Megan Mueller (Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University)

Associate Professor John Geldhof (College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University)

Community Partners:

Green Chimneys

Funding Sources:

Green Chimneys

A & P Sommer Foundation

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)

Publications:

Geldhof, G. J., Flynn, E., Mueller, M. K., Gandenberger, J., Witzel, D., & Morris, K. N. (2021). Emotion regulation and specificity: The impact of animal-assisted interventions on classroom behavior. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 73, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101253 

Motiff, M. & Morris, K.N. (2021). Nature-based interventions for children with special needs. Exchange, November/December issue, 12-15.

Gandenberger, J., Flynn, E., Mueller, M., & Morris, K.N. (2021). The impacts of a nature-based mentorship program on students’ self-regulation: Harnessing the anticipation effect. Available at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/hw_onehealth/4/

Flynn, E., Gandenberger, J., Mueller, M. K. Morris, K. N. (2020) Animal-assisted interventions as an adjunct to therapy for youth: Clinician perspectives. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. In Press.

Flynn, E., Denson, E.B., Mueller, M.K., Gandenberger, J., and Morris, K.N. (2020). Human-animal-environment interactions as a context for youth development: Practitioners’ perspectives on processes of change, implementation, and challenges. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 41. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101223

Flynn, E., Zoller, A.G., Mueller, M. K., & Morris, K. N. (2019). Human-Animal-Environment Interactions as a Context for Child and Adolescent Growth. Journal of Youth Development, 14(4), 144-163. https://doi:10.5195/jyd.2019.839.

Flynn, E., Mueller, M.K., Luft, D., Geldhof, G.J., Klee, S., Tedeschi, P. and Morris, K.N. (2019). Human-animal-environment interactions and self-regulation in youth with psychosocial challenges: The Green Chimneys model. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin. 8(2), 53-65.

Morris, K.N., Flynn, E., Jenkins, M., Senecal, J., Gandenberger, J., Hawes, S.M., and Tedeschi, P. (2019). Documentation of nature-based programs at Green Chimneys. Available at: https://www.greenchimneys.org/why-animals-nature/sam-myra-ross-institute/tools-resources-practitioners/recent-studiesfindings/.

Research Type:

Active

Research Interest:

child welfare, children and youth, human-animal connection, K-12 education

This project's aim is to measure the impacts of interventions that involve animals, plants or nature on youth development, health and well-being.

Nature-based interventions may promote positive development for youth by offering opportunities to engage in relationships that may elicit social and emotional skill building. These skills may in turn enhance adaptive emotion and behavior regulation. Located in Brewster, NY, Green Chimneys is a residential treatment and special education facility for students with serious psychosocial challenges. We are documenting and measuring the impacts of a wide variety of interventions across the campus that incorporate animals, plants and nature. As part of this effort, numerous methodologies have been employed, such as interviews, surveys and behavioral observations of stakeholders to reveal unique insights into the impacts and mechanisms of nature-based interventions at Green Chimneys and other complex clinical environments.