Physical Activity and Health Benefits of Human-Pet Interaction: A Focus on Dog Ownership

Purpose: This study explores whether dog or cat ownership leads to significant differences in exercise habits and overall health.Methods: Data from the 2021-2022 Home Indoor Air Quality Survey, including 156 adults aged 20 years who owned either a dog or a cat, were analyzed.Participants were selected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle variables were compared using complex sample chi-square and t-tests.Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between pet type and physical activity, including aerobic and strength exercises.Results: Dog owners exhibited significantly higher levels of physical activity compared to cat owners.Weekly walking time averaged 333.87 minutes among dog owners and 232.35 minutes among cat owners.Additionally, 74.5% of dog owners engaged in over 150 minutes of weekly walking, compared to 53.6% of cat owners.Logistic regression analysis revealed that dog ownership was significantly associated with increased aerobic exercise (OR: 2.933, 95% CI: 1.138-7.557),even after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related variables.Conclusion: Dog ownership is linked to higher levels of physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, likely due to the behavioral needs of dogs requiring regular walking.These findings support the role of companion animals as facilitators of active lifestyles and suggest that incorporating pet-related strategies into public health interventions may be effective for promoting physical activity and improving population health.