The Role of Couples’ Activities on Relationship Satisfaction

Shared leisure activities play a crucial role in close relationships, with prior research linking exciting joint activities with higher relationship satisfaction. While most studies have focused on comparing different couples, rather than examining variations within couples, this study expands on previous findings by exploring both between- and within-couple associations of shared activities with relationship satisfaction, as well as their short- and long-term effects. This research draws on data from 1,039 heterosexual couples, who completed four sets of daily diaries over a 20-month period (> 62,000 observations total). Results suggest that joint activities (without others present), shared daily life experiences, and frequent sexual contact were associated with higher relationship satisfaction at both between- and within-couple levels. Additionally, daily conversations and shared activities with others were linked to short-term increases in relationship satisfaction within couples but were not associated with higher overall satisfaction between couples. Over time, those couples who managed to maintain high levels of joint activities, sexuality, and conversations experienced weaker declines in relationship satisfaction. Understanding these dynamics can provide deeper insights into how shared experiences influence romantic relationships and inform strategies to enhance relationship satisfaction.