1. Dog-walking and sense of community in neighbourhoods: Implications for promoting regular physical activity in older adults
Presented by Ann M. Toohey, PhD student (Community Health Sciences) Population Health Intervention Research Centre,
Institute of Public Health
University of Calgary
October 29, 2012
Co-authors:
Dr. Gavin McCormack Dr. Cindy Adams Dr. Patricia Doyle-Baker Dr. Melanie Rock
Photo  Shutterstock

2. Presenter Disclosures
Ann M. Toohey
The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months:
No relationships to disclose.

3. Overview
Introduction
Method
Results
Implications
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4. Introduction
Need for effective health promotion strategies to attend to the health of an aging population:
Neighbourhood-based walking may offer both physical activity and access to social capital
Dog-walking often occurs in public space in urban neighbourhoods
Few studies have considered how dogs influence the lives of both dog-owners and non-owners
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5. Study objectives
Examine the associations between dog-ownership, neighbourhood characteristics, neighborhood-based recreational walking (NRW), and sense of community (SC)
Examine whether or not SC mediated the associations between dog-ownership, neighbourhood characteristics and NRW, among older adults.

6. Sense of community Sense of Community Pedestrianism Mutual aid
Attachment to place
Neighborliness
Sense of Community
Community identity
Sense of belonging
Social interaction
Sense of safety
Sense of security

7. MEDIATOR: Sense of Community
Theoretical model
For a sample of older adults (≥ 50 years)
Neighborhood-based recreational walking (90 min/wk and 150 min/wk)
i. Dog owner/walker ii. Neighborhood characteristics (built and social)
MEDIATOR: Sense of Community
Photo A. Toohey

8. Method Cross-sectional survey data
Comparative analysis of characteristics of dog- owner/frequent dog-walkers, dog-owner/ infrequent dog-walkers, and non-owners
Binary logistic regression models of associations
Mediation by sense of community

9. Results – comparative analysis
Frequent Dog-walkers
Infrequent Dog-walkers
Non-owners
Reported some NRW in past 7 daysa,b
88.0%
53.1%
53.6%
Reported  90 min NRW in past 7 daysa,b
78.2%
29.2%
33.4%
Reported  150 min NRW in past 7 daysa,b
66.2%
15.6%
20.8%
Reported high sense of communityb
56.4%
41.7%
44.6%
 65 yearsb,c
22.6%
21.9%
Single/separated/divorced/ widoweda,c
68.4%
77.1%
63.2%
Gross household income < $60,000/yrb,c
27.8%
27.1%
46.0%
ap<0.05 between FDWs and IDWs
bp<0.05 between FDWs and NOs
cp<0.05 between IDWs and NOs

10. Results – statistical models
Significant associations (p<.05)*
Odds ratio (95% CI)
Owner/frequent dog walker Sense of community
1.94 (1.28 – 2.93)
Owner/frequent dog walker  90 min/wk NRW
8.07 (5.03 – 12.95)
Owner/frequent dog walker  150 min/wk NRW
10.35 (6.51 – 16.45)
N’hood with lowest education Sense of community
0.59 (0.38 – 0.92)
N’hood with highest income  90 min/wk NRW
1.63 (1.05 – 2.51)
Warped grid street layout  150 min/wk NRW
1.64 (1.00 – 2.68)
* All models were adjusted for self-reported health, tenure in the neighbourhood, age, gender, marital status, annual gross household income, education, and season of survey completion.
No evidence was found to support sense of community as a mediator of associations between dog walking, neighborhood characteristics, and neighborhood-based recreational walking.

11. Summary
Compared to non-owners, dog- owners 50 yrs and older who are frequent dog-walkers are:
Twice as likely to have a high sense of community,
Over 8 times as likely to walk 90 min/week
Over 10 times as likely to walk 150 min/week.
Infrequent dog-walkers do not differ significantly from non- owners.
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12. Implications for interventions
Policy around dog control and use of public space
Leverage dogs’ role in motivating owners and non-owners to walk
Consider the neighbourhood environments in terms of (a) shared outdoor spaces, and (b) outdoor spaces that address aging adults’ needs
Photo  Shutterstock

13. This research was generously supported by:
Acknowledgements
This research was generously supported by:

14. Thank you.
Photo  Dave Simpson (Funkypancake)