Moving together: couples who exercise together communicate better

Going for a walk, a run or a workout with your spouse may also do your marriage some good. Researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah – Ashlyn Mildenhall, Matthew L. Núñez and Jeremy Yorgason – analysed data from 1,693 young married couples in the nationally representative US CREATE study, which has followed newlywed couples for more than a decade. They compared how exercising alone and exercising together relate to three areas of a relationship: communication, conflict resolution and marital stress. The study was published in the journal Family Relations.

Both forms of exercise were linked to healthier marriages, but shared exercise consistently more strongly. About 60 percent of respondents said they exercised, but only about a third did so with their spouse. Walking was the most common shared activity. Couples who worked out together reported listening to each other better and feeling more supported. 'Out of all three outcomes, exercise had the biggest impact on communication,' says lead author Ashlyn Mildenhall.

The researchers stress the limits: 'While the impact is not necessarily large, it is very consistent,' says Yorgason. The data show associations, not proof that exercising together improves a marriage – it is also possible that happier couples are more likely to be active together. Shared exercise is not a cure-all for relationship problems, and couples with young children often have to plan the time deliberately. The press release gives no information on funding.