REXBURG—A walk around the neighborhood may do more than improve physical health, it could also help strengthen a marriage.
BYU researchers studied the connection between exercise and relationship quality among married couples, looking specifically at communication, conflict resolution and the amount of conflict couples experience.
Dr. Jeremy Yorgason, a professor in BYU’s School of Family Life and one of the study’s researchers, said exercise was associated with positive relationship outcomes, but exercising with a spouse showed an even stronger connection.
“Exercise can help, but if you exercise together as a couple, it does something, beyond psychologically that helps couples,” Yorgason said.
Researchers looked at data from 1,693 couples who participated in the second wave of a longitudinal study of young married couples in the United States. Participants reported whether they exercised, whether they exercised with their spouse and what types of exercise they participated in.
Cardio was the most commonly reported form of exercise, followed by walking, strength training, running and going to the gym.
Yorgason said activities such as walking may give couples an opportunity to connect while stepping away from some of the distractions of everyday life.
“These types of activities where you’re side by side, and it gives you a chance to go beyond the logistics of the day and discuss things that are important,” Yorgason said.
The study measured communication by asking participants about behaviors such as listening to their spouse, clearly expressing themselves and understanding their partner’s feelings. Researchers also examined how often couples experienced conflict and how they handled disagreements.
According to Yorgason, couples who exercised together reported higher-quality conflict resolution, less severe conflict and better communication overall.
Although the research found an association between exercising together and stronger relationship outcomes, Yorgason said there is still more to learn about what happens during that shared time. Future research could explore whether couples are talking, joking, solving problems or simply connecting in a more relaxed environment while exercising.
For couples interested in applying the findings, Yorgason said it does not have to mean spending hours at the gym together.
“We don’t have tons of extra time in our day, but just going for 15 minutes in the evening or finding a time during the day that you can go together can make a big difference,” Yorgason said.
Yorgason and his colleagues plan to continue studying why exercising together may benefit relationships and what happens between couples during that shared activity.