Dog ownership, the natural outdoor environment and health: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Dog owners walking their dog in natural outdoor environments (NOE) may benefit from the physical activity facilitated by dog walking and from time spent in nature. However, it is unclear whether dog owners receive additional health benefits associated with having access to NOE above the physical activity benefit of walking with their dog. We investigated associations between dog ownership, walking, time spent in NOE and health and whether these associations differed among those with good and poor access to NOE and those living in green and less green areas.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe project.

Participants

n=3586 adults from

SUBMITTER: Zijlema WL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6549751 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature