Relational, Physical, and Mental Health: How Relationship Satisfaction Influences Exercise Self-Efficacy

Yorkshire

Can being satisfied in a relationship create the confidence to exercise? Some research suggests a positive relationship between exercise and positive relationship events for both partners (Johnson et al., 2018), yet there may be important mediators between relationships and exercise, that have not been tested. Research has found that higher relationship satisfaction is associated with lower depressive and anxiety symptoms (Whisman, Uebelacker, & Weinstock, 2004). Another important mechanism linked with exercise is self-efficacy—or the confidence to carry out a behavior (i.e., exercise; Jackson, Tucker, & Herman, 2007). Self-efficacy and mental health are also significantly related (Bandura, 1997), as is exercise and mental health (Chekroud et al., 2018). The question remains then, how is relationship satisfaction and exercise self-efficacy linked? Utilizing dyadic data from 234 heterosexual couples, the purpose of the current study was to determine the association between relationship satisfaction and exercise self-efficacy mediated through mental health.