Date nights provide an opportunity for couples to reconnect and strengthen their bond outside of the daily routines and responsibilities of married life. However, limiting date nights to just yourselves is not always the winning strategy.
What Makes Us Happiest?
The Harvard Study of Adult Development is a longitudinal research project that has been ongoing for over 80 years, aiming to understand the factors contributing to a fulfilling and healthy life.
The study is widely regarded as the most prominent study of happiness. It has yielded valuable insights by tracking the lives of a group of college sophomores and a group of disadvantaged youth from Boston through various stages and collecting comprehensive data on physical health, mental well-being, relationships, and overall satisfaction.
What was revealed is that close relationships, particularly satisfying marriages, are the most crucial predictor of a happy and healthy life.
At the same time, social connections and meaningful interactions significantly impact long-term well-being.
"Loneliness kills. It's as powerful as smoking or alcoholism." — Robert Waldinger
Similarly, the study highlights the adverse effects of loneliness and social isolation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong interpersonal connections for happiness and fulfillment.
The Impact of Date Nights on Marriages
The National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia researched how frequent date nights between married couples have impacted various aspects of a happy marriage.
The National Marriage Project just released the 2023 edition of “The State of Our Unions Survey,” of 2,000 married, heterosexual men and women aged 18-55 in the United States. Respondents were asked, “How often do you do the following: Go on date nights where you have a chance to talk, catch up, and do something fun with your spouse?”
52% of husbands and wives reported they “never” go out on date nights with their spouses or only went on date nights “a few times a year.”
48% had date nights “one or twice a month” or more frequently than that.
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According to the same research, there is a linked pattern of date night frequency and common markers for marital happiness among married women and men, aged 18–55, by date night frequency. The illustrations below are from The State of Our Unions Survey, 2023.
Predicted Percentages of Being Very Happy in Marriage
Predicted Percentages of Reporting Divorce is “Not at all Likely”
Predicted Percentages of Reporting Very Happy With Communication
Predicted Percentages of Being Highly Satisfied With Sex in Marriage
Predicted Probabilities of Being Highly Committed to Their Relationship
Related Reading: Are Married Couples Happier?
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Citations
"2023 Date Night Opportunity." National Marriage Project, 2023, nationalmarriageproject.org/blog/resources/2023-date-night-opportunity/.
Aging Well. "Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life from the Landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development." (2002).