Many researches across the world are stating that differences at physical activity of children and teenagers, who have a dog in family and those, who do not have a dog in family, are occuring. The main purpose of this master's dissertation was to determine whether Slovenian children and adolescents with a dog in the family are more physically active compared to those, who do not have a dog. We considered differences between gender and differences in age. We also examined whether differences also occur to the size or type of dog and its need for movement.
The data were collected in the framework of the longest transversal study on the physical and motor development of children and youth and related factors - the ARTOS study from 2013/14.The study included 2720 children and adolescents aged 11-18 years. To study the problem, we prepared a specially designed questionnaire.
More than half children and adolescent (58%) listed that they do not have a dog and 42% listed that they have a dog. We processed the data with the SPSS software and found that those girls who have a dog are more active than those without a dog. There were no statistically significant differences in boys. For the most part these boys and girls who attended questionnaire choose to walk the dog compared to their family members. We also found that the amount of physical activity of children and adolescents with a dog with small need of movement is significant smaller compared to those who have a dog with high or medium need of movement.
Based on the results, we conclude that caring for a dog with a medium or high need of movement could be a good intervention measure to increase physical activity of girls.
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