Family dog ownership, dog walking and dog play associated with increased pre-schooler physical activity
Oral Presentation A8.7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.410Keywords:
Dog Ownership, Pre-Schooler, Physical Activity, Dog WalkingAbstract
Background: Childhood obesity and physical inactivity are major public health issues. Almost every second household in Australia has a dog. Dog ownership leads to greater physical activity (PA) in adults and school-aged children. Purpose: To examine if dog ownership and dog-facilitated PA was associated with higher PA in pre-schoolers. Methods: A secondary data analysis of the ‘Play Spaces & Environments for Children’s Physical Activity’ study cohort (2015-2018) was undertaken. Data was collected for 1490 children 2-5 years from 122 long day-care centres in Perth, Western Australia. Parent-report surveys measured socio-demographic factors, dog ownership, child-dog play, dog walking, structured/unstructured PA and sedentary screen time. Results/Findings: Compared with non-dog owners, dog-owning pre-schoolers did 6 minutes/day more home yard play, 5 minutes/day less park play and 8 times/week more unstructured PA (all p<0.05). Dog-owning pre-schoolers who played with their dog 3≥ times/week did 25 minutes/week more structured PA, 12 times/week more unstructured PA, 31 minutes/day more home yard play and 8 minutes/day more park play (all p<0.05). Dog-owning pre-schoolers who walked their dog ≥1 time/week did 8 times/week more unstructured PA, 12 minutes/day more home yard play, 17 minutes/day more park play and 126 mins/week less sedentary screen time (all p<0.05). Conclusions: Family dog ownership is associated with outdoor play, structured and unstructured PA and screen time. This suggests that dog play and dog walking may be viable strategies for increasing pre-schoolers’ PA levels. Funding: US Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HAB17-017), W. Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway#24219), Australian Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship (HC#100794).
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