01 Apr 2015 Can Your Partner Help You Achieve Your Health Goal?
In our Willpower Program, we describe a 1993 study at Brigham Young University. The results of this study show that 95% of the students who worked with an Accountability Partner achieved their goal, versus only 15% of the students who did not work with an Accountability Partner.
A new study published on January 19th, 2015 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), showed that people who worked on the same health goal with their spouse or live-in partner were significantly more likely to achieve their health goal.
The Science:
The study involved over 3700 adults in their middle 50’s. The research team led by Professor Jane Wardle of the University College of London followed these individuals over a 10 year period and tracked the achievement of their health goals including stopping to smoke, increasing their physical activity, and reducing the body weight.
The researchers compared the results achieved by those who worked on their goal together with their spouse or live-in partner, with those achieve by people who worked on their goals alone.
Stop Smoking Research Chart
In the area of smoking, 48% of the men and 50% of the women that worked with their partner were able to achieve their goal, compared to only 8% of the men and 8% of the women that worked without a partner.
Physical Activity Research Chart
In the area of increasing the level of physical activity, 67% of the men and 66% of the women that worked with their partner were able to achieve their goal, compared with only 26% of the men and 24% of the women who worked on their own.
Weight Loss Research Chart
In the area of weight loss, the difference between working with a partner and working alone was less pronounced. Twenty-six (26%) of men achieved their goal working with their partners, versus 10% who worked on their own. For women, it was 36% versus 15%.
Clearly, the researchers concluded, “contracting” with your spouse or live-in partner to pursue a health goal together will lead to a much better outcome than trying it alone.
Our Recommendation:
Whether you plan to pursue your health goal together with your spouse or live-in partner, or with an Accountability Partner, the outcome is guaranteed to be better than trying on your own without any support.
We therefore highly recommend that, if you are committed to achieving a new healthier behavior, you identify a partner to work with.
To Learn More:
To learn more about working with an Accountability Partner, we suggest that you explore our Willpower Program.
