Research has found that married couples who exercise together communicate better. Researchers in the USA looked at exercise habits and relationships of 1,700 married couples. The research team focused on conflict resolution, the ability to listen, and the seriousness and frequency of marriage problems. A professor suggested that exercising together helped couples sort out problems peacefully. He added that the effect was small but important. He said couples communicated better and had fewer problems when they exercised together.

The researchers compared couples exercising separately with those exercising together. Both kinds of exercise were associated with healthier marriages. However, couples who exercised together were more successful at resolving marriage problems. The professor said: "About 60 per cent of husbands and wives in the sample said they exercised, but only about a third exercised together. That means about half the people who exercise are not exercising with their spouse." The professor said he was confident that exercising together affected relationships "in some meaningful way".