Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Using family stress and coping theory, the current study assessed dyadic influences of specific facets of mindfulness (nonreactivity, acting with awareness, and nonjudgment), accounting for stress levels, on relationship quality and sexual satisfaction in an ethnically and economically diverse sample of 847 married and unmarried heterosexual couples. Results from actor–partner interdependence models indicated a positive association between one’s own report and partners’ report of nonreactivity and one’s own reports of relationship quality for both men and women. Men’s and women’s acting with awareness was associated with women’s sexual satisfaction. Nonjudgment was not uniquely associated with one’s own or one’s partner’s relationship quality or sexual satisfaction. Since the majority of research on mindfulness and relationship quality uses broad global measures of mindfulness, this study provides novel information on the comparative strength of dimensions of mindfulness on distinct areas of couple functioning using a dyadic approach. Suggestions for future work and implications for research and practice are discussed.

Keywords

Actor–partner interdependence model mindfulness relationship quality sexual satisfaction stress

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Baer

R. A.

(2011). Measuring mindfulness. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 241–261. https://doi.org/10.1080/14639947.2011.564842

Baer

R. A.

Smith

G. T.

Hopkins

Krietemeyer

Toney

(2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13(1), 27–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191105283504

Barnes

Brown

K. W.

Krusemark

Campbell

W. K.

Rogge

R. D.

(2007). The role of mindfulness in romantic relationship satisfaction and responses to relationship stress. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33(4), 482–500. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2007.00033.x

Bihari

J. L. N.

Mullan

E. G.

(2014). Relating mindfully: A qualitative exploration of changes in relationships through mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Mindfulness, 5(1), 46–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0146-x

Brown

K. W.

Ryan

R. M.

(2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822–848. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822

Carson

J. W.

Carson

K. M.

Gil

K. M.

Baucom

D. H.

(2004). Mindfulness-based relationship enhancement. Behavior Therapy, 35(3), 471–494. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80028-5

Dixon

H. C.

Overall

N. C.

(2016). Dispositional mindfulness attenuates the link between daily stress and depressed mood. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 35(3), 255–268. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2016.35.3.255

George

Mallery

(2010). SPSS for windows step by step: A simple study guide and reference, 17.0 update (10th ed.). Allyn & Bacon.

Grossman

Niemann

Schmidt

Walach

(2004). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 57(1), 35–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(03)00573-7

10.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 144–156. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bpg016

11.

Kappen

Karremans

J. C.

Burk

W. J.

Buyukcan-Tetik

(2018). On the association between mindfulness and romantic relationship satisfaction: The role of partner acceptance. Mindfulness, 9(5), 1543–1556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-018-0902-7

12.

Karremans

J. C.

Schellekens

M. P. J.

Kappen

(2017). Bridging the sciences of mindfulness and romantic relationships: A theoretical model and research agenda. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 21(1), 29–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868315615450

13.

Khaddouma

Coop Gordon

Bolden

(2015). Zen and the art of sex: Examining associations among mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction in dating relationships. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 30(2), 268–285. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2014.992408

14.

Khaddouma

Coop Gordon

Strand

E. B.

(2017). Mindful mates: A pilot study of the relational effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on participants and their partners. Family Process, 56(3), 636–651. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12226

15.

Kozlowski

(2013). Mindful mating: Exploring the connection between mindfulness and relationship satisfaction. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 28(1-2), 92–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2012.748889

16.

Lenger

K. A.

Gordon

C. L.

Nguyen

S. P.

(2017). Intra-individual and cross-partner associations between the five facets of mindfulness and relationship satisfaction. Mindfulness, 8(1), 171–180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0590-0

17.

Levenson

R. W.

Gottman

J. M.

(1985). Physiological and affective predictors of change in relationship satisfaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49(1), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.49.1.85

18.

McGill

Adler-Baeder

(2019). Exploring the link between mindfulness and relationship quality: Direct and indirect pathways. Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12412

19.

McGill

Adler-Baeder

Rodriguez

(2016). Mindfully in love: A meta-analysis of the association between mindfulness and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 4(1), 89–101. https://www.jhseonline.com/article/view/623/678

20.

Norton

(1983). Measuring marital quality: A critical look at the dependent variable. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 141–151. https://doi.org/10.2307/351302

21.

Pakenham

K. I.

Samios

(2013). Couples coping with multiple sclerosis: A dyadic perspective on the roles of mindfulness and acceptance. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 36(4), 389–400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-012-9434-0

22.

Patterson

J. M.

(2002). Integrating family resilience and family stress theory. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64(2), 349–360. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2002.00349.x

23.

Rosen

Brown

Heiman

Leiblum

Meston

Shabsign

Ferguson

D’Agostino

(2000). The female sexual function index (FSFI): A multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 26(2), 191–208. https://doi.org/10.1080/009262300278597

24.

Saavedra

M. C.

Chapman

K. E

& Rogge

R. D

. (2010). Clarifying links between attachment and relationship quality: Hostile conflict and mindfulness as moderators. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(4), 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019872

25.

Schellekens

M. P. J.

Karremans

J. C.

van der Drift

M. A.

Molema

van den Hurk

D. G. M.

Prins

J. B.

Speckens

A. E. M.

(2016). Are mindfulness and self-compassion related to psychological distress and communication in couples facing lung cancer? A dyadic approach. Mindfulness, 8(2), 325–336. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0602-0

26.

Silverstein

R. G.

Brown

A. H.

Roth

H. D.

Britton

W. B.

(2011). Effects of mindfulness training on body awareness to sexual stimuli: Implications for female sexual dysfunction. Psychosomatic Medicine, 73(9), 817–825. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e318234e628

27.

Wachs

Cordova

J. V.

(2007). Mindful relating: Exploring mindfulnesss and emotion repertoires in intimate relationships. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33(4), 464–481. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2007.00032.x

28.

Williams

A. M

Cano

(2014). Spousal mindfulness and social support in couples with chronic pain. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 30(6), 528–535. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000009

29.

Zamir

Gewirtz

Zhang

(2017). Actor–partner associations of mindfulness and marital quality after military deployment. Family Relations, 66(3), 412–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12266

The dyadic influences of mindfulness on relationship functioning

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References