In a recent study published in BMC Public Health, researchers investigated the impact of human-dog bonding on physical activity (PA), lifestyle, and health outcomes of dog owners (DOs).
study: Do you walk the dog or let it walk?Role of attachment. Image credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock.com
background
A healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, frequent physical activity, and refraining from tobacco and moderate alcohol intake, can help prevent and manage chronic diseases.
Researchers have tackled global health issues through community-based walking clubs, public legislation, and pet engagement. Attachment level, dog walking habits, and caregiving practices influence the health benefits of owning a pet.
About research
In the current study, researchers investigated whether the dog-DO connection influences overall PA, as assessed by accelerometers. They also investigated the association between social, demographic, and lifestyle factors and DO and the health of their pets.
Researchers analyzed 38 dog owners and their dogs. In the initial stage, samples were collected by snowball method and convenience sampling. They recruited participants through word of mouth and social media, and approached dog owners while walking in parks and public streets.
After recruiting volunteers, we will explain the study to you, excluding dogs and their owners with chronic musculoskeletal conditions or disabilities that may interfere with physical activity, and dog owners who do not interact with their dogs on a daily basis. A face-to-face meeting was held to
Each participant (dog and owner) received a unique numerical identification code during the second study phase. After completing a web-based questionnaire, participants can enter the third phase of the study, which uses accelerometers to assess their and their pets' physical activity levels during daily activities.
Researchers assessed socio-demographics [age, gender, level of education, body mass index (BMI), employment status, and family members]Self-Rated Health (SRH), Lexington Attachment Pet Scale (LAPS), and FANTASTICO Lifestyle Rating Scale data.
The research team collected sociodemographic information about the dogs, including age, gender, date of adoption, and dog care procedures (e.g., neutering, deworming, vaccinations).
They used a subjective approach to assess the dogs' physical condition while in contact with study participants and their pets, taking into account visual and tactile characteristics including body condition scores (BCS). They investigated the associations between PA levels, LAPS, social and demographic factors, SRH, and lifestyle behaviors using descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation analysis.
result
The average age of participants was 43 years, and 66% were female. Most participants lived with more than one individual. 61% had normal weight, 61% had a bachelor's degree, and 70% worked in the tertiary industry (70%).
13% of the dogs were 2 years old or younger, 6.0% were 3 to 8 years old, and 21% were 9.0 years old or older.
This study found a significant correlation between dog owners' light levels of physical activity and their pets' vigorous physical activity. The association of pet health and her LAPS subscales intimacy and attachment were related to pet walking.
DOs who lived healthy lifestyles reported improved SRH scores and became more concerned about their pets' health. Employed owners had lower metabolic equivalents (MET), steps, moderate physical activity (MPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels compared to unemployed owners. was quite high.
The frequency of dog walking varied greatly depending on the owner's work position. Education level was also demonstrated to have some significant association with the value people place on dog health.
Dogs with higher BMI were strongly associated with how often owners took their dogs for walks, but had a marginally significant negative association with sedentary activity.
The importance of your dog's health is significantly associated with the FANTASTICO lifestyle scale, with higher scores on the personality/work subscale and higher scores on other behavioral subscales associated with a lower and moderate pet BMI. It has been shown that there is a significant relationship between
conclusion
This study highlights the link between developing healthier habits and increased self-perception of health, along with increased interest in pet health.
The study points out that the bond between dog owners and their dogs plays an important role in promoting healthy lifestyle choices and active participation in physical activity (PA).
The results of this study suggest that dog owners engage in more physical activity when they share a strong connection with their pet, suggesting that the strength of the human-animal bond significantly influences the level of physical activity. It shows that it affects.
