This paper brings some insights of $$\psi '$$
ψ
′
-mixing, $$\psi ^*$$
ψ
∗
-mixing and $$\psi$$
ψ
-mixing for copula-based Markov chains and the perturbations of their copulas. We provide new tools to check Markov chains for $$\psi$$
ψ
-mixing or $$\psi '$$
ψ
′
-mixing. We show that perturbations of $$\psi '$$
ψ
′
-mixing copula-based Markov chains are $$\psi '$$
ψ
′
-mixing while perturbations of $$\psi$$
ψ
-mixing Markov chains are not necessarily $$\psi$$
ψ
-mixing Markov chains, even when the perturbed copula generates $$\psi$$
ψ
-mixing. The Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern, gaussian and Ali-Mikhail-Haq copula families are considered among other examples. A statistical study is provided to emphasize the impact of perturbations on copula-based Markov chains in a simulation study. Moreover, we provide a correction to a statement made in Longla et al. (J Korean Stat Soc, 1–23, 2021) on $$\psi$$
ψ
-mixing.