Dog ownership and physical activity in SCAPIS Uppsala

Dog ownership has previously been linked to improved cardiovascular health in dog owners. In this cross-sectional study, we use data from SCAPIS Uppsala to assess the link between dog ownership and accelerometer-measured physical activity.

Project description

Dog ownership has been linked to improved cardiovascular health in owners, potentially due to healthier lifestyles and increased social interactions. Previous studies on dog ownership and physical activity, often assessed using questionnaires, have, for example, indicated that dog owners tend to take daily walks even in poorer weather conditions. However, no previous study has elucidated the link between dog ownership and physical activity in the Swedish setting.

In this cross-sectional study, we use data from SCAPIS Uppsala (n≈4500) to examine the relationship between dog ownership and objectively measured physical activity using both hip and thigh accelerometers. Additionally, we will investigate whether ownership characteristics, such as the level of responsibility for the dog's daily exercise, dog breed group, or the number of dogs in the household, influence these estimates. Furthermore, we will examine interactions with residential factors, such as living in urban or rural areas, access to green spaces, and with variables such as season, daily mean temperature, and daily mean precipitation.

Project members

Project leader: Beatrice Kennedy
Co-investigators: Tove Fall, Ulf Hammar, Mariko Kanamori

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