Congruence and goal sharing of health-related goals among newly dating individuals explaining goal importance and commitment

Abstract

Objectives

The study aimed to determine whether perceived goal sharing (i.e., perceiving a partner as having the same health-related goal) and/or perceived goal congruence (i.e., being able to spend time together in health-related goal activities) with a romantic partner are associated with health-related goal commitment and importance.

Design and main outcome measures

80 participants with a health-related goal in a larger study on newly dating relationships completed two self-report questionnaires 3 months apart using validated assessments of goal commitment and importance.

Results

Perceived goal congruence was associated with concurrent goal commitment and importance and higher goal commitment over time. However, perceived goal sharing was not associated with the health-related goal dimensions (even when interacting with goal congruence) with the exception of increased goal importance over time for those scoring lower than the average on relationship satisfaction.

Conclusion

One way to enhance health-related goal importance and commitment is to ensure goal congruence exists within romantic relationships, and partners can spend time together engaging in goal-related activities with their partner. Moreover, the results suggest that romantic partners exert an influence even among the newly dating, who are often presumed to be less impactful on health outcomes and processes.

Keywords:

• Couples
• goals
• health
• partner influence
• goal commitment
• goal importance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Collection of these data was supported by a Doctoral Award given to Judith Gere by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.