Working Out with a Spouse: Is it Worth the Effort?

Researchers at the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction published a study on October 18, 2023, that suggests working out with a spouse may not result in as much physical activity as expected. The study involved 240 participants aged 54 to 72, all of whom were married and living with their spouses.

The participants were split into four groups: two couples groups and two individual groups. They exercised either with or without their spouses for a 12-week period while wearing fitness trackers. Only half of the participants received real-time data from their fitness trackers.

The study found that working out with a spouse did not result in as much physical activity as working out alone. This suggests that exercising with a buddy, specifically a spouse, may not be as effective as working out independently. It is important to note that this study only involved married couples living together, so its findings cannot be generalized to other types of relationships or living situations.

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