Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, 305-8506, Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne, Faculty of Business and Economics Building, 111 Barry Street, 3010, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 29;14(1):26007. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-77231-x.
This study examines the association between dog ownership over a period of 5 years (always, sometimes and no ownership) with physical activity on weekdays and weekends over a period of 6 years using the nationally representative German Socio-Economic Panel. Participants were asked if they had any pets and how many hours they spend on sports, fitness, and exercise. We hypothesized that the length of dog ownership may have different effects on the physical activity of the owner. Overall, 15,240 participants completed the questionnaire on dog ownership in both 2011 and 2016, and reported their physical activity levels at least once between 2013 and 2018. Generalized estimating equation models showed that, compared to no ownership, always dog ownership was associated with higher physical activity on weekdays (Coefficient = 0.106, Standard Error: SE = 0.027, P < 0.001) and weekends (Coefficient = 0.121, SE = 0.033, P < 0.001) respectively, after controlling for related socio-demographic, physical, and psychological factors during the 6-year follow-up period. During the same follow-up period, sometimes dog ownership had no clear association with physical activity on both weekdays (Coefficient=-0.012, SE = 0.033, P = 0.706) and weekends (Coefficient = 0.049, SE = 0.039, P = 0.209) compared to no ownership. This study showed for the first time that longer dog ownership is associated with higher physical activity on both weekdays and weekends. Future research will be needed to investigate whether any causal relationships underlie the association.
本研究使用全国代表性的德国社会经济面板，考察了在 5 年内拥有狗（一直拥有、有时拥有和没有拥有）与 6 年内平日和周末体育活动之间的关联。参与者被问及他们是否有宠物以及他们在运动、健身和锻炼上花费了多少时间。我们假设狗的拥有时间可能对主人的体育活动有不同的影响。总体而言，15240 名参与者在 2011 年和 2016 年都完成了关于狗拥有情况的问卷调查，并在 2013 年至 2018 年期间至少报告了一次他们的体育活动水平。广义估计方程模型显示，与没有拥有相比，一直拥有狗与平日（系数=0.106，标准误差 SE=0.027，P<0.001）和周末（系数=0.121，SE=0.033，P<0.001）的体育活动水平分别更高，在 6 年随访期间控制了相关的社会人口、身体和心理因素之后。在同一随访期间，有时拥有狗与平日（系数=-0.012，SE=0.033，P=0.706）和周末（系数=0.049，SE=0.039，P=0.209）的体育活动之间没有明显关联，与没有拥有相比。这项研究首次表明，较长时间拥有狗与平日和周末的体育活动水平更高有关。未来的研究将需要调查这种关联是否存在任何因果关系。
