In a recent study published in The Journals of Gerontology, researchers found that couples who consumed alcohol together reported more satisfaction in their marriages than couples who drank separately.
The researchers from the University compared 4,864 married people over the age of 50 who had been with their partners for an average of 33 years. They were asked about their alcohol consumption, as well as the quality of their relationship. The findings showed that women who drank while their spouses abstained reported greater dissatisfaction. (An earlier study by the University at Buffalo found similar results, though that focused on newlywed couples.)
“…Couples that do more leisure time activities together have better marital quality.”
Dr. Kira Birditt, the lead author of the study, noted that they weren’t suggesting that people should drink more or change the way they drink. If anything, this study shows that couples who spend quality time together are happier. “It could be that couples that do more leisure time activities together have better marital quality,” continued Birditt. In other words, if couples who drink together are happier, couples who teetotal should be just as happy.
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