Exercise is commonly associated with physical fitness, improved sleep and better mental wellbeing. New research, however, suggests it may also play a role in strengthening relationships.
An analysis involving 1,693 newly married couples found that physically active spouses generally reported healthier relationship dynamics. Although exercising individually was also linked to positive outcomes, activities shared with a partner appeared to have the most consistent association with improved relationship quality.
Looking at exercise beyond physical health
Researchers from Brigham Young University (BYU) set out to examine whether couples who were physically active together were also more effective at communicating and resolving disagreements.
The study focused on the early years of marriage, a period often characterised by major adjustments involving careers, finances, parenting and household responsibilities.
The researchers used the term "conjoint exercise" to describe activities carried out with a spouse and concentrated specifically on relationship skills rather than overall life satisfaction.
“Our findings suggest that conjoint exercise facilitates, in a small but significant way, the ability to resolve conflict peacefully,” said co-author Jeremy Yorgason.
According to the researchers, couples who exercised together tended to report more positive experiences when discussing problems and working through disagreements.
Nationwide survey of married couples
The findings are based on data from the CREATE project, a large-scale survey designed to reflect the experiences of newly married couples across the United States.
Participants were asked whether they exercised regularly and could list up to three activities they commonly performed. For each activity, they indicated whether it was done alone or with their spouse.
This allowed researchers to separate the effects of shared exercise from individual exercise.
The study included both husbands' and wives' perspectives. During the first survey phase, wives had an average age of 27.9 years, husbands 29.9 years, while approximately 46% of couples had children.
Measuring communication and conflict
To assess relationship quality, participants answered several questions related to:
- Listening skills.
- Efforts to understand a partner's perspective.
- How disagreements were handled.
- The frequency and severity of arguments.
- Their ability to reach solutions after conflicts.
Researchers also accounted for factors such as age, education, race, employment status, household income and the presence of children.
Joint exercise linked to better outcomes
After controlling for those factors, the researchers found that couples who exercised together reported:
- Better communication.
- Stronger conflict-resolution abilities.
- Lower levels of marital conflict.
Similar patterns appeared among people who exercised on their own, but those associations were generally weaker and less consistent.
Walking, running, cycling, swimming, gym workouts, hiking, sports participation and strength training were among the most commonly reported shared activities.
Interestingly, only about one-third of couples reported exercising together, despite roughly 60% of both husbands and wives saying they exercised regularly.
“About 60 percent of husbands and wives in the sample said they exercised, but only about a third exercised together,” Yorgason noted.
Communication showed the strongest association
Of all the relationship measures examined, communication appeared to have the strongest connection with exercise.
Researcher Ashlyn Mildenhall pointed to walking as a possible reason.
Walking was the most commonly reported form of shared exercise, and its conversational nature may naturally encourage partners to talk, listen and spend uninterrupted time together.
Unlike some other activities, walking requires little preparation, equipment or expense, making it relatively easy for couples to incorporate into daily life.
Why might exercising together help?
The study was not designed to determine why exercise and relationship quality appear connected, but the researchers proposed several possibilities.
Shared physical activity may provide couples with dedicated time away from work, children, household chores and digital distractions.
Exercise may also reduce stress, improve mood and help individuals regulate emotional responses, factors that could contribute to calmer discussions and more constructive conflict management.
Regular activity together may additionally create opportunities for encouragement, cooperation and problem-solving within everyday routines.
Important limitations
The researchers stressed that the findings do not prove that exercise directly improves a marriage.
Because the data were collected at a single point in time, it is equally possible that couples with stronger relationships are simply more likely to plan activities together.
The study also relied on self-reported information and did not track how intensely, how often or how long participants exercised.
Furthermore, the statistical associations observed were modest and accounted for only a small proportion of differences in relationship quality.
The sample also consisted largely of couples with moderate-to-high incomes and at least some college education, meaning the findings may not fully represent every demographic group.
A simple tool, not a cure-all
The researchers emphasised that exercising together should not be viewed as a solution to serious marital problems.
Practical barriers such as childcare responsibilities, demanding work schedules, financial pressures and fatigue can make shared exercise difficult for many couples.
Nevertheless, the findings suggest that simple activities such as walking, cycling or exercising at home may provide an accessible opportunity for partners to reconnect and spend quality time together.
Future studies are expected to explore whether structured exercise programmes can directly improve communication and conflict-resolution skills over time.
The researchers conclude that while shared exercise does not necessarily transform a relationship, couples who are active together generally report healthier communication patterns and fewer relationship difficulties.
The study was published in the journal Family Relations.
Source: earth.com
