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Drinking habits within relationships have long been a topic of interest, but a recent study from the University of Michigan sheds new light on the potential health implications. Published in The Gerontologist, the study conducted by Kira Birditt, a research professor at the U-M Institute for Social Research’s Survey Research Center, suggests that couples who share similar drinking behaviors tend to live longer.
The concept, known as “the drinking partnership,” posits that couples with aligned alcohol use patterns often experience better marital outcomes, such as reduced conflict and longer-lasting relationships. Drawing from this theory, Birditt’s study sought to explore whether concordant drinking behaviors among couples were associated with longevity.
Examining data from the Health and Retirement Study—a nationally representative survey of adults aged 50 and older in the United States—Birditt and her team analyzed the drinking habits of over 4,600 married or cohabiting different-sex couples. Participants were interviewed every two years, providing a comprehensive view of their drinking behaviors over time.
Surprisingly, the study revealed that couples where both partners reported drinking alcohol within the last three months tended to live longer compared to couples with discordant drinking patterns or those where both partners abstained from alcohol.
While the findings may suggest a potential link between shared drinking habits and longevity, Birditt emphasizes caution in interpreting the results. “The study specifically looked at drinking patterns and defined ‘drinking’ very broadly,” she notes. “It may suggest the importance of remembering how spouses can impact each other’s health.”
Birditt underscores the potential role of compatibility in couples’ lifestyles, intimacy, and relationship satisfaction. “Drinking concordance among couples may be a reflection of compatibility among partners,” she explains. “We’ve also found in other studies that couples who drink together tend to have better relationship quality, and it might be because it increases intimacy.”
Looking ahead, Birditt aims to delve deeper into the dynamics of couple drinking patterns and their implications for daily marital quality and physical health outcomes. “Future research should assess the implications of couple drinking patterns for daily interpersonal processes,” she suggests.
As the study highlights the complex interplay between drinking behaviors, relationships, and health outcomes, it opens the door to further exploration in understanding how couples influence each other’s well-being.
