Couples who exercise together report better communication, stronger conflict resolution, and lower levels of marital conflict than those who work out separately, according to a university study examining nearly 1,700 young married partners across the United States.
Research has long established that physical activity benefits individual health. However, a study published in Family Relations by researchers at news.byu.edu explores how shared physical workouts influence relationship dynamics over time.
Inside the Data: What Nearly 1,700 Couples Revealed
The study analyzed survey data from nearly 1,700 young married couples participating in the nationally representative Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences study. This project has followed newly married couples across the United States for more than a decade. Researchers compared individual workouts against physical activity performed together, evaluating three specific relationship metrics: communication, conflict resolution, and marital conflict.
While individual exercise was associated with healthier marriages, working out as a couple consistently showed stronger associations with positive outcomes. Among the participants, about 60% of husbands and wives reported that they exercised, but only about a third worked out together. BYU School of Family Life professor Jeremy Yorgason noted that about half of those who exercise do so independently of their spouse.
“About 60% 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. While the impact is not necessarily large, it is very consistent, which gives me confidence that it is influencing relationships in some meaningful way.”
Jeremy Yorgason, BYU professor
Why Walking Emerged as the Top Shared Activity
Of all the evaluated relationship outcomes, exercise had the biggest impact on communication. Researchers found that couples who exercised together also reported better listening and greater feelings of being heard and supported.
Walking was the most commonly reported form of shared exercise among the couples. This finding suggests that partners do not require expensive gym memberships or elaborate weight racks in the garage to gain relationship benefits. Instead, walking naturally provides opportunities to communicate.
“Out of all three outcomes, exercise had the biggest impact on communication. That’s why it was interesting that walking was the number one reported exercise. It naturally provides opportunities to communicate.”
Ashlyn Hiatt Mildenhall, co-author
Broader Habits for Maintaining Marital Happiness
Beyond physical activity, maintaining a strong bond often involves cultivating simple daily habits. Happy couples regularly share intimate details, such as dream vacations, how they hope to be remembered, and personal hobbies.
Physical affection beyond intimacy—ranging from handholding and long hugs to daily kisses and caresses—also correlates with higher relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, responding positively to daily “bids” for attention, such as pointing out a news story or sharing an event from work, distinguishes happier couples from those whose relationships are less happy.
Additional daily rituals include expressing gratitude, bringing a lighthearted approach to resolving arguments, and performing acts of service like filling up the car with gas, doing the dishes, or picking up favorite muffins at the bakery. Interestingly, research suggests that even aligning bedtime routines can reduce conflict. Couples who go to bed at the same time report less conflict, more serious conversation, and more sex than those who keep divergent schedules.
Navigating Demands and Setting Realistic Expectations
Researchers stress that shared exercise is not a cure for relationship challenges. For young families managing careers, household responsibilities, and parenting, carving out time to work out together requires intentional scheduling.
Ultimately, conjoint physical activity functions as one of many healthy habits families can do. By transforming routine movement into shared time, couples build regular opportunities for connection amid the pressures of daily life.
