New research has found that married couples who exercise together communicate better. Researchers from Brigham Young University in USA looked at exercise habits and relationships of 1,693 young married couples. In particular, research team focused on conflict resolution, ability to listen to partner, and the seriousness and frequency of marital issues. Study co-author Professor Jeremy Yorgason suggested that exercising together helped couples sort out problems "peacefully". He added that effect was small but significant. He said couples reported better communication and fewer problems when they exercised together.
researchers compared couples exercising separately with couples exercising together. Both individual and shared exercise were associated with healthier marriages. However, couples who exercised together were found to be more successful at resolving marital problems. Professor Yorgason said: "About 60 per cent of husbands and wives in sample said they exercised, but only about third exercised together. That means about half people who exercise are not exercising with their spouse." He added that while impact was not necessarily large, it was very consistent across couples. The difference gave him confidence to say that it was affecting relationships "in some meaningful way".
