@article{ref1,
title="Dog walking among adolescents: correlates and contribution to physical activity",
journal="Preventive medicine",
year="2015",
author="Engelberg, Jessa K. and Carlson, Jordan A. and Conway, Terry L. and Cain, Kelli L. and Saelens, Brian E. and Glanz, Karen and Frank, Lawrence D. and Sallis, James F.",
volume="82",
number="",
pages="65-72",
abstract="PURPOSE: To assess the association of dog walking with adolescents' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and BMI, and identify correlates of dog walking. <br><br>METHODS/DESIGN: Participants were 12-17year-olds (n=925) from the Baltimore, MD and Seattle, WA regions. Differences in accelerometer-assessed minutes/day of MVPA and self-reported BMI (percentile) were compared among adolescents (1) without a dog (n=441) and those with a dog who (2) did (≥1days/week, n=300) or (3) did not (n=184) walk it. Correlates of (1) dog walking (any vs. none) among adolescents with dogs (n=484), and (2) days/week of dog walking among dog walkers (n=300) were investigated. Potential correlates included: demographic, psychosocial, home environment, perceived neighborhood environment, and objective neighborhood environment factors. <br><br>RESULTS: 52% of adolescents lived in a household with a dog, and 62% of those reported dog walking ≥1day/week. Dog walkers had 4-5 more minutes/day of MVPA than non-dog-walkers and non-dog-owners. BMI was not associated with dog walking or ownership. Among households with dogs, adolescents who lived in objectively walkable neighborhoods were 12% more likely to walk their dog than those in less walkable neighborhoods. Among dog walkers, having a multi-family home, college-educated parent, lower perceived traffic safety, higher street connectivity and less mixed use were related to more days/week of dog walking. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Dog walkers had 7-8% more minutes/day of MVPA than non-dog walkers, and correlates of dog walking were found at multiple levels of influence. <br><br>RESULTS suggest multilevel interventions that include both environmental and psychosocial components to increase dog walking should be evaluated.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0091-7435",
doi="10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.11.011",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.11.011"
}