IS THE TIME SPENT TOGETHER RELATED TO RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION?

Aim. To determine the relationship between time spent together as a couple and relationship satisfaction (RS).Participants. The study included 59 adults cohabiting for at least a year. The average age of participants was 38.4 years (SD=15.36); 59.3% were women, 40.7% were men.Methods. RS was assessed using the 16-item Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI-16). Participants rated responses on a 0–5 Likert scale. Time spent together was assessed using four original questions. Participants provided socio-demographic data (gender, age, relationship duration, etc.).Results. The average RS score was 60.90 out of 80 (SD=13.49). Longer relationships (p=0.019, rho=-0.30) and older age (p=0.003, rho=-0.38) were associated with lower RS. Couples spent 4.81 hours (SD=3.28) on workdays, 11.91 (SD=3.76) on weekends. More than half of the participants reported engaging in conversations (52.5%), household chores (66.1%), screen activities (59.3%), or active leisure (54.2%) with their partner. RS correlated most strongly with time spent together on weekends (p=0.009, rho=0.34). Time spent together on workdays was not related to RS (p=0.137, rho=0.196). Participants with children reported higher RS if they indicated engaging in childcare together (p=0.006, U=174.5). Other activities were not related to RS.Conclusion. Older individuals and those in longer relationships experienced lower RS. On average, romantic partners spent 5 hours together on workdays and 12 hours on weekends. Individuals in shorter relationships spent more time together than those in longer relationships. The most common activities were conversations, household chores, screen activities, and active leisure. The time couples spent together was associated with RS, regardless of activity choice. However, childcare was associated with higher RS.