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Couples mimic health habits
4 October 2007
If one member of a couple exercises, quits smoking, stops drinking alcohol or gets a vaccine or screen, the other member is more likely to follow suit and do the same.
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Smokers were found to be five times as likely to quit if their partner gave up the habit.
And they were also five times as likely to give up drinking alcohol if their partner decided to.
Jody Sindelar, co-author of the study, said: "We found that when one spouse improves his or her health behaviour, the other spouse was likely to do so as well.
"This was consistent across all the behaviours analysed and was similar among both males and females."
Experts have called for health programmes which aim to promote healthier habits to consider the impact partners can have on health-related decisions.
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