Mindfulness, Spousal Attachment, and Marital Satisfaction: A Mediated Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between mindfulness, spousal attachment, and marital satisfaction. The national sample included 104 married adults aged 19–66. Results indicated partial support for the mediating effect of spousal attachment on the relationship between trait mindfulness and marital satisfaction. Although the relationship between trait mindfulness and marital satisfaction demonstrated in the current study is not the first of its kind, these results provide preliminary support for the role of spousal attachment as the mechanism through which trait mindfulness may contribute to greater marital satisfaction. These findings suggest that mindful attunement to one’s partner may promote the activation and growth of neural circuitry associated with safety, security, and positive affect within the romantic relationship, that mindfulness training may have beneficial effects for couples' therapy and relationship enhancement, and that mindfulness training could help foster healthy spousal attachment.

Actor–Partner Associations of Mindfulness and Marital Quality After Military Deployment

“…The findings indicated that greater mindfulness is associated with higher marital quality in both male service members and their partners. In this study we extended previous work on mindfulness and marital quality, which has focused primarily on the intrapersonal associations of mindfulness and marital functioning (Burpee & Langer, 2005;Jones et al, 2011;Wachs & Cordova, 2007), by employing a dyadic approach. We relied on the premises of interdependence theory (Arriaga, 2013;Kelley & Thibaut, 1978), which posits that each partner's characteristics are important to the assessments and behavioral responses to marital situations, which in turn informs partners' evaluations of marital quality.…”

“…Marital quality refers to feelings and evaluations of spouses about their marital relationship (Glenn, 1990). Previous studies have offered evidence about the direct link between mindfulness and greater marital satisfaction (Burpee & Langer, 2005;Jones, Welton, Oliver, & Thorburn, 2011;Wachs & Cordova, 2007). A recent meta-analysis testing 12 effect sizes from 10 studies indicated that the extent to which marital partners practiced mindfulness across these studies explained 7% of the observed variation in marital quality (McGill, Adler-Baeder, & Rodriguez, 2016).…”

“…Mindfulness has been found to be beneficial for marital quality in a civilian population (Jones et al, 2011;Wachs & Cordova, 2007), but not much is known about the benefits of mindfulness for marital quality among deployed military couples. In past research, this population has demonstrated distinctive relational characteristics (Merolla, 2010), some of which are related to transitional challenges after deployment (Gewirtz, Erbes, Polusny, Forgatch, & DeGarmo, 2011).…”

Parental mindfulness and dyadic relationship quality in low-income cohabiting Black stepfamilies: Associations with parenting experienced by adolescents.

“…Since 2007, several qualitative and quantitative studies have supported an association between mindfulness and dyadic relationship quality. Specifically, higher levels of mindfulness have been shown to be associated with multiple components of relationship quality: A greater capacity to respond positively to relationship stress (Barnes, Brown, Krusemark, Campbell, & Rogge, 2007); increased empathy and acceptance towards oneself and others (Allen, Bromley, Kuyken, & Sonnenberg, 2009); lower levels of romantic relationship conflict and coparenting conflict around childrearing (Bailie, Kuyken, & Sonnenberg, 2012); enhanced communication quality (Allen et al, 2009; Barneset al, 2007); decreased reactivity and escalation of anger in challenging interactions (Bailie et al, 2012); increased emotional availability (Allen et al, 2009); and increased relationship satisfaction (Barnes et al, 2007; K.C. Jones, Welton, Oliver, & Thoburn, 2011; Wachs & Cordova, 2007).…”

Development of Interpersonal Mindfulness Scale-TR (IMS-TR): Validity and Reliability

“…It can be seen that most of the studies in the literature, which focus on the subject, examine mindfulness as experienced through individuals' inner experiences (Frank, Jennings, & Greenberg, 2016). However, research dealing with the effects of mindfulness on interpersonal relationships is quite limited in number (Gillespie, Davey, & Flemke, 2015;Jones, Welton, Oliver, & Thoburn, 2011;Karremans, Schellekens, & Kappen, 2017).…”