I think that people boast of being prevented from doing things by their partner because it confirms that they are indeed in a serious relationship central enough to both their lives for them to be concerned with how the other's actions might affect it. Like it or not, being married or coupled means merging two identities into one. For one partner to do their own thing without concern for the other partner violates that arrangement and elevates one partner's needs over the needs of the relationship. If you're not willing to put the relationship first, you're probably not a good candidate for marriage.