The impact of a dog-facilitated mobile physical activity intervention on children's social–emotional development: a randomized controlled trial.

Background Dog ownership has been suggested to be positively associated with children's physical, social, and emotional development. This study investigated the effect of a mobile health dog-facilitated physical activity intervention on young children's social–emotional development and attachment to...

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Publicado en:Journal of Public Health Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 144 - 154
Autores principales: Ng, Michelle, Adams, Emma K, Murray, Kevin, Westgarth, Carri, Christian, Hayley
Formato: research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA Mar2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Mar2026
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      pub: Oxford University Press / USA
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        atl: The impact of a dog-facilitated mobile physical activity intervention on children's social–emotional development: a randomized controlled trial.
      aug:
        au:
          Ng, Michelle
          Adams, Emma K
          Murray, Kevin
          Westgarth, Carri
          Christian, Hayley
        affil: The Kids Research Institute Australia, The University of Western Australia, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
      sug:
        subj:
          Physical Activity Psychosocial Factors
          Child Development
          Pet Therapy
          Dogs
          Telehealth
          Psychological Well-Being
          Empathy
          Self Regulation
          Emotions
          Social Behavior
          Attachment Behavior
          Treatment Outcomes
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Child
          Randomized Controlled Trials
          Random Assignment
          Comparative Studies
          Descriptive Statistics
          Data Analysis Software
          After Care
          Child Behavior
          Child Psychology
          Social Determinants of Health
          Emotional Regulation
          Child Health
          Questionnaires
          Checklists
          Scales
          Child: 6-12 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background Dog ownership has been suggested to be positively associated with children's physical, social, and emotional development. This study investigated the effect of a mobile health dog-facilitated physical activity intervention on young children's social–emotional development and attachment to the family dog. Methods 150 five- to ten-year-olds with a family dog(s) participated in the PLAYCE ('PLAY Spaces and Environments for Children's Physical Activity')—PAWS study, a three-armed randomized controlled trial. Children were randomized into either the SMS-only, SMS + pedometer, or control group for four-weeks. Parents reported children's social–emotional development (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), empathy (Young Children's Empathy Measure), self-regulation (Fast Track Project Child Behavior Questionnaire), and attachment to the dog (Dogs and Physical Activity Tool). Linear mixed effects models examined intervention effects at one- and three-month follow-up. Results There were no significant differences observed between intervention and control groups at one- or three-month follow-up for social–emotional development, empathy, self-regulation, or attachment to the dog (all P -values > 0.05). Conclusions Larger interventions encouraging children to be physically active with their dog are required to confirm these findings and the impact of dog-facilitated physical activity interventions on child and family health and development outcomes. Longer intervention and follow-up periods are also needed.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        randomized controlled trial
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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