The Implications of Being "In it Together": Relationship Satisfaction and Joint Health Behaviors Predict Better Health and Stronger Concordance Between Partners.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Extensive evidence shows that satisfying marriages boost physical health and longevity. A separate literature reveals strong concordance in couples' health, but the relationship processes that contribute to health concordance remain poorly understood.

Purpose

The current study examined whether relationship satisfaction and joint health behaviors-the extent to which couples eat, sleep, and exercise together-are associated simultaneously with better health and greater health similarity between partners.

Methods

Heterogeneous variance multilevel models were applied to data from 234 married couples (Mage = 46, Range = 20-84) reporting on their relationship satisfaction, joint health behaviors, and four health indicators-health satisfaction, depressive symptoms,

SUBMITTER: Wilson SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9528786 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature