Mindfulness in Relationships: Eight-Week Mindfulness Intervention Associated with Decreased Negative Emotion and Increased Nonreactivity in Non-meditating Romantic Partners
Mindfulness March 6, 2026 Christopher J. May, Rhoda Schuling, Liv Ziegfeld et al.
A daily diary study with a randomized controlled design assigned couples to either an 8-week mindfulness-based course or an active control positive psychology course, with only one partner participating. Both course participants and their non-meditating partners in the mindfulness condition showed reductions in negative emotion over time. Partners in the mindfulness condition also showed a significant increase in nonreactivity, a facet of mindfulness not seen in the control group. The previous day's nonreactivity of the course-participating partner predicted the non-meditating partner's negative emotion, suggesting nonreactivity may be an important interpersonal outcome and mechanism of meditation interventions.