Associations of Work Demands, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Sleep Quality with Relationship Satisfaction among Working Couples in Urban India

Dual-earner households have increased in India. Increased work demands among couples potentially influence their lifestyle behaviors, sleep patterns and relationship well-being. This study explored the associations between work characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, sleep quality, and relationship satisfaction among urban working couples. We used cross-sectional survey among 116 adults (58 couples) aged 25–55 years residing in the Delhi National Capital Region. Data were collected using standardized tools, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, Work–Life Balance Scale, and Relationship Assessment Scale. Descriptive and inferential analyses (chi-square, independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regressions) were performed using SPSS version 26.0. Over half of the participants were classified as obese (56.9%), and 53.4% reported frequent meal skipping, largely due to time constraints. Poor sleep quality was observed in 43.1% of participants. Longer working hours were more common among those reporting poorer work-life balances, though not independently significant in multivariable analysis. Work-life balance showed a moderate negative correlation with sleep quality (r = -0.42, p < 0.001) and physical activity (ρ = -0.32, p = 0.001), and a negative association with relationship satisfaction (r = -0.20, p = 0.035). In regression analysis, sleep quality and body mass index showed the strongest associations with work-life balance, although the overall model was not statistically significant. These findings emphasize the interconnected influence of work demands, lifestyle behaviors, sleep, and relational well-being among urban Indian couples, highlighting the need for integrated workplace and household-level interventions.