The Influence of Relationship Status on the Association Between

Exercise and Alcohol Consumption

Hailee Goodale, Allison Neal, Sarah Ray, & Brandon Kistler | Department of Nutrition and Dietetics | Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Background Results Discussion

• Research shows mixed results on whether alcohol consumption Percent Exercising vs the Proportion of Days that • Through analyzing the relationship between exercise and alcohol
and physical activity are related. Few studies have examined the Alcohol is Consumed consumption over the past 30 days, it was found that the two are
effect of marriage on these two variables. strongly and positively correlated, but does not significantly differ

% exercising in the last 30 days

83.9 between relationship status.
• Compared with current abstainers, light, moderate, and heavy 82.8
78.6 78.1 • 43% of married people who exercised within the past 30 days also
drinkers exercise 5.7, 10.1, and 19.9 more minutes per week.1
consumed alcohol
• Physical activity has begun to be implemented as an intervention in 66.8 • 38% of divorced individuals who exercised within the past 30 days
problematic alcohol use.2 also consumed alcohol
• Strong evidence that intimate relationships cause a decline in • 25% of widowed individuals who exercised within the past 30 days
alcohol consumption.3 also consumed alcohol
• 32 % of separated individuals who in the same 30-day period.
exercised over the past 30 days also consumed alcohol
Aim • 44% of people who had never been married who exercised within
the past 30 days also consumed alcohol
The purpose of this study is to examine if the relationship between • 45% of people who were in an unmarried relationship participated in
alcohol consumption and physical activity varies by relationship type. exercise and consuming alcohol
• RQ1: Does a correlation exist between a exercise in the past 30 • In regards to the current literature, the results of this study are
NONE 1 TO 7 8 TO 14 15 TO 21 22 OR MORE
days and alcohol in the past 30 days. parallel with research indicating the positive correlation between
Proportion of Days that Alcohol is Consumed alcohol consumption and exercise.
• RQ2: Is there a relationship between exercise in the past 30
• The strengths of this study include the data collection tool, BRFSS,
days and alcohol consumption in the past 30 days and marital
Percent Exercising by Relationship Status and a Web Enabled Analysis Tool (WEAT) that is considered a valid and
status.
the Consumption of Alcohol reliable tool across the U.S.
90
• Potential limitations include confounding variables including whether
Methods the individuals had children, other familial values, socioeconomic
80
status, age, race, health status, religion, and personal beliefs.
Materials
% exercised in the last 30 days

• Data obtained from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance 70

System (BRFSS) questionnaire. Web Enabled Analysis Tool
(WEAT) is used to analyze the BRFSS data by allowing users to 60
Conclusion
create cross tabulations for health indicators within selected states
based on year and variable(s). 50
• A significant relationship between days of completed exercise and
days of alcohol consumption exists.
Participants
40
• Relationship status does not have a significant effect on the
• Adult population (18 years or older) residing in the United States. relationship between alcohol consumption and exercise.
Variables 30
• Further research is warranted to determine other social factors that
• Variable 1: Consumed at least one drink of an alcoholic beverage may influence the relationship between exercise and alcohol
consumption.
over the past 30 days 20
• Variable 2: Exercised in the past 30 days
References
• Controlled Variable: Marital status (Married, Divorced, Widowed, 10

Separated, Never married, member of unmarried couple)
0
Data Analysis Married
• Web Enabled Analysis Tool (WEAT) along with Chi-Square was be p<0.05 for all
used to evaluate the data.
Days of Alcohol Consumption: None
• Statistical significance p < 0.05.
Days of Alcohol Consumption: 8 to 14
Days of Alcohol Consumption: 22 or more
• 1) French MT, Popovici I, Maclean JC. Do alcohol consumers exercise more? Findings
from a national survey. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2009; 24: 2-10.
Divorced Widowed Seperated Never Married Unmarried • 2) Leasure J, Neighbors C, Henderson C, Young C. Exercise and alcohol consumption:
Relationship what we know, what we need to know, and why it is important. FRONTIERS IN
Realtionship Status PSYCHIATRY. 2015; 6: 156.
Days of Alcohol Consumption: 1 to 7 • 3) Dinescu D, Turkheimer E, Beam CR, Horn EE, Duncan G, Emergy RE. Is marriage a
buzzkill? A twin study of marital status and alcohol consumption. Journal of Family
Days of Alcohol Consumption: 15 to 21 psychology; JFP: Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American
Psychological Association (Division 43). 2016;30: 698-707.