Research Question

How has happiness with the amount of love and affection received by your partner affected by time spent doing recreational activities together?

Literature Review

Love and affection are fundamental factors in healthy romantic relationships, contributing significantly to individuals’ overall satisfaction and well-being within said relationships. Sequentially, engaging in recreational activities with one’s partner may, in turn, strengthen the bond and further create shared experiences. However, there are different ways in which relationships engage with one another, leading to a need for them to be studied to understand the deeper day-to-day connections within significant others’. Attachment theory, proposed by John Bowlby and further developed by Mary Ainsworth, explores how early relationships shape individuals’ attachment styles and influence their adult relationships (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2005). Moreover, our early experiences with caregivers form internal working models of relationships, affecting how we connect to others later in life.

Attachment theory is highly relevant to affection alignment, as individuals with different attachment styles may seek varying levels of closeness and intimacy in their relationships, impacting their partner compatibility by affecting happiness with the amount of love and affection received within the relationship (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2005). Leisure activities bring couples together, involving the exchange of rewarding interactions and demonstrating the investments put into the relationship, whether time or money. Social exchange theory “suggests that shared leisure [creates] shared meaning and identity as a couple,” emphasizing the importance of cost-benefit analysis in relationships (Totenhagen et al., 2022). Proposing that individuals strive to maximize rewards and minimize costs in their interactions has implications for relationship satisfaction. Partners assess the rewards they receive (e.g., love, support, companionship, security) against the costs (e.g., time, energy, financial expenses, sacrifices), influencing their overall satisfaction and commitment to the relationship (Totenhagen et al., 2022). Theoretical perspectives such as attachment theory and social exchange theory offer insights into the dynamics of relationship satisfaction and leisure engagement within relationships. Leisure activities vary in individuals’ day-to-day lives; however, participation has been shown to improve physical health, quality of life, and well-being (Pang et al., 2022). Pang and colleagues examined the relationship between leisure activities and life satisfaction, highlighting the significance of bridging the gap between theoretical preferences and the actual act of engaging in leisure activities (2022). While not directly addressing love and affection, their findings suggest that engaging in preferred leisure activities can positively impact overall satisfaction with life, potentially extending to satisfaction within romantic relationships.

Although not specific to romantic relationships, recreation is believed to be the most important determinant of happiness as it allows individuals the opportunity to maintain their life values and meet their needs. Neslihan Kan Sönmez investigated the correlation between participation in recreational activities focusing on subjective well-being among academicians (2023). The study highlights the positive association between leisure engagement and overall well-being as “lack-of leisure time can be stated as one of the low levels of participation” (Kan Sönmez, 2023). Translating this to romantic relationships, if within the relationship there are shared recreational activities mutual happiness and relationship satisfaction may increase due to the increase in quality of time. Finances can be considered one of the top stressors within relationships, “linking financial distress to lower relationship satisfaction” (Totenhagen et al., 2022). Totenhagen and co-authors conducted a longitudinal study further examining the association between shared leisure activities, financial distress, and relationship outcomes among couples (2022). Their findings suggest that engaging in leisure activities together lessens the negative impact of financial stress on relationship satisfaction due to the acts being done for quality time. This underscores the importance of joint leisure engagement as a protective factor in maintaining relationship quality. The peer-reviewed articles analyzed highlight the interconnectedness of love, recreational activities, and relationship satisfaction. Engaging in recreational activities with a partner serves as a means of fostering a connection, creating shared memories, and enhancing mutual well-being. Moreover, the quality and frequency of recreational activity may contribute significantly to relationship satisfaction, lessening external stressors such as financial strain. Ultimately, the literature review underscored the importance of joining engagement in recreational activities in romantic relationships for one to feel love and affection.

Hypotheses

H0: There is no relationship between happiness with the amount of love and affection received and doing recreational activities together. H₁: There is a significant relationship between happiness with the amount of love and affection received and doing recreational activities together.

Methods

Data The experimental data come from the Crime, Health, and Intimate Partner Problems Survey (CHIPPS), a cross-sectional probability sample of St. Mary’s University undergraduate students (n = 200) designed to analyze differences in partner violence and religion. Students were randomly chosen via their student email. The survey was then disseminated via email so that participants could complete it on their computer or mobile device. Respondents were offered a $10 gift card to participate in the survey. Data was collected between Spring and Fall of 2024.

Measures

1. Relationship Happiness. To explore initial attitudes toward relationships, respondents were asked if “How happy are you with the amount of love and affection you receive from your spouse or partner?” Answer options ranged from “Very unhappy” = 1 ~ 0, “Unhappy” = 2 ~ 1, “Somewhat unhappy” = 3 ~ 2, “Happy” = 4 ~ 3, and “Very happy” = 5 ~ 4.
2. Recreational Activities Done. To measure the amount of time partners spend together respondents were asked, “How often do you and your partner spend time doing recreational activities together (e.g., going to concerts, the gym, watching shows/movies)?” Answer options ranged from “Never” = 1 ~ 0, “Rarely” = 2 ~ 1, “Sometimes” = 3 ~ 2, “Often” = 4 ~ 3, “Very Often” = 5 ~ 4.
3. Feelings about Current Relationship. Respondents were asked to gauge their “level of happiness toward their current relationship.” Responses consisted of “Very unhappy” = 0, “Unhappy” = 1, “Happy” = 2, and “Very happy” = 3.
4. Respondent’s Age. Age (in years) was recorded by asking respondents, “How old are you?”. Respondents answered anywhere from 18 to 22 years of age.
5. Gender. Gender was coded by asking respondents to indicate their gender. Initial responses included “Male” = 1, “Female” = 2, “Transgender” = 3, and “Other” = 4. Due to few responses in the “Transgender” and “Other” categories, this variable was dichotomized so that “Male” = 0 and “Female” = 1.
6. Race/Ethnicity. To ascertain the respondent’s race/ethnicity, they were asked, “With which group do you most closely identify?” Response categories ranged from “Non-Hispanic White” = 1, “Hispanic” = 2, “African American” = 3, “Asian” = 4, and “Other” = 5. The variable was then recoded into a series of four dummy variables with “Non-Hispanic White” as the reference group (e.g., Hispanic/African American/Asian/Other = 1, Else = 0).
7. Household Income. To gauge the total income in respondents’ households, they were asked to “select the category that gives the best estimate of your total annual household income (income of all family living in your home) before taxes in the last year (not including scholarships or grants).” Possible responses ranged from “None/Under $5,000” = 0 to “$75,000 or more” = 10.
8. Class. Respondents were asked to identify their current student classification. This classification follows the Office of the Registrar’s method, which bases classification on the total amount of hours (including those currently enrolled by the student) when determining their classification. These options included “Freshman” = 0, “Sophomore” = 1, “Junior” = 2, “Senior” = 3.
9. Employment Status. Lastly, respondents were asked to identify their current employment status. Responses included “Other” = 0, “Unemployed” = 1, “Part-time” = 2, “Full-time” = 3.

Results

Table 1 displays a bivariate analysis of the sample’s happiness with the amount of love and affection received by their partner, based on the amount of time the couple spends doing recreational activities together. The chi-square test was used as it is a nonparametric test that tells us if two variables are associated with one another, with the variables being examined being ordinal. The chi-square test (p ≤ .3999) indicates that there is not a significant relationship between happiness with the amount of love and affection received by their partner and the amount of time the couple spends doing recreational activities together. Therefore, the null hypothesis is accepted. Table 2 displays a multiple linear regression that provides exploratory analyses of whether any sociodemographic variables might be statistically significant with happiness with the amount of love and affection received by their partner. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the relationship between two or more independent variables and one dependent variable. The multiple linear regression (p ≤ .66) indicates that there are no significant findings. Therefore, the null hypothesis is accepted.

Conclusion

To have a healthy relationship, quality time is vital in increasing happiness with love felt within. The literature review highlighted the link between love, recreational activities, and relationship satisfaction to have overall relationship satisfaction (Totenhagen et al., 2022). Previous research underlined the significance of attachment theory as future relationships are based on early life experiences (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2005). At the same time, social exchange theory focuses on how shared leisure time is recognized with cost-benefit analysis, where individuals evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of participating in social activities (Tukel, 2020). Overall, this research is important because it allows for a deeper analysis of what affects relationship satisfaction, quality time, and compatibility. The study was motivated by the realization that there are various aspects of a relationship and understanding how both individuals within the partnership can thrive, strengthening their connection. The findings of this research revealed there was no association between leisure engagement and happiness with love and affection felt within the relationship. However, the results don’t mean there is no relation just that other spurious factors may greatly affect happiness with love and affection felt within a relationship. Future research should be done on various aspects of long-term relationships and what might have led to a better connection emotionally and romantically.

References

Liang Pang, Chengcheng Liu, Yigang Lin, & Xinyi Xie. (2022). The distance between theoretical and practical leisure activities influenced life satisfaction. Revista de Psicología Del Deporte, 31(3), 211–221.

Neslihan Kan Sönmez. (2023). The Relationship between Participation to Recreational Activities and the Subjective Well-Being: An Application on Academicians. Trakya Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 25(1), 235–259. https://doi.org/10.26468/trakyasobed.1170317

Totenhagen, C. J., Li, X., Wilmarth, M. J., Archuleta, K. L., & Yorgason, J. B. (2024). Do couples who play together stay together? A longitudinal dyadic examination of shared leisure, financial distress, and relationship outcomes. Family Process, 63(1), 210–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12869

Tukel, Y. (2020). Investigation of the Relationship between Participation in Recreational Activities and Sensation Seeking among University Students.

Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2005). Attachment theory and emotions in close relationships: Exploring the attachment‐related dynamics of emotional reactions to relational events. Personal relationships, 12(2), 149-168.