ArticleAnnals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine2022
The Implications of Being "In it Together": Relationship Satisfaction and Joint Health Behaviors Predict Better Health and Stronger Concordance Between Partners.
Article in Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Couples Sharing Sleep and Sickness: Dyadic Sleep-Wake Patterns, Health Consequences, and Intervention Efficacy in Cancer Patient-Caregiver Dyads-A Systematic Review and Preliminary Meta-Analysis.Psycho-oncology · 2026Pooled it
- Enhancing Relationship Functioning and Relationship Deployment Readiness: Dyadic Changes Through the Adventures in Marriage (AIM) Program Among Military Couples.Journal of marital and family therapy · 2026Article
- Spousal Support and Strain in Relation to Concerns About Aging: The Serial Mediating Roles of Life Satisfaction and Attitudes Toward Own Aging.Research square · 2026Article
- Students' Oral Histories on Family Environment and Alcohol Use: A Qualitative Study.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2025Article
- Does partnership predict mortality? Evidence from a twin fixed effects study design.SSM - population health · 2025Article
- Oral health status of Egyptian mothers and their preschool children: association of mother's oral health literacy and marital satisfaction- a cross-sectional study.BMC oral health · 2025Article
- Daily relationship satisfaction and markers of health: Findings from a smartphone-based assessment.Applied psychology. Health and well-being · 2025Article
- Couple synchrony in physical activity: effects on individuals with knee osteoarthritis.Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine · 2025Article
- In it Together: Relationship Transitions and Couple Concordance in Health and Well-Being.Personality & social psychology bulletin · 2025Article
- Concordance of HIV Prevention Advocacy Reports and its Associations with HIV Protective Behaviors.AIDS and behavior · 2024Article
- Couples-based health behavior change interventions: A relationship science perspective on the unique opportunities and challenges to improve dyadic health.Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology · 2024Article
- Felt Age and Its Psychological Correlates in Dementia Spousal Caregiving Dyads: Findings From the IDEAL Programme.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2024Article
- Between- and Within-Couple Concordance for Health Behaviors Among Japanese Older Married Couples: Examining the Moderating Role of Working Time.International journal of behavioral medicine · 2024Article
- Increased vigorous exercise and decreased sedentary activities are associated with decreased depressive symptoms in United States adults: Analysis of The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020.Health science reports · 2023Article
- The Story of Us: Older and Younger Couples' Language Use and Emotional Responses to Jointly Told Relationship Narratives.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2022Article
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Abstract
backgroundExtensive 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.
methodsHeterogeneous 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, comorbidities, and medication use.
resultsMore satisfied couples engaged in more joint health behaviors than less satisfied counterparts. When joint health behaviors and relationship satisfaction were examined as separate fixed effects, both predicted greater health satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms. More joint health behaviors were also associated with less medication use. When both were modeled together, only relationship satisfaction predicted depressive symptoms. By contrast, in random effects, joint health behaviors predicted greater similarity in health satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and comorbidities. Relationship satisfaction only predicted more similar depressive symptoms.
conclusionsAlthough more satisfied couples engaged in more joint health behaviors. relationship satisfaction and joint health behaviors uniquely predicted couples' health quality and concordance, suggesting that distinct mechanisms may drive better health and stronger health resemblance.
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