Associations of Mindful Partnering With Mental and Relational Health.
Brock A Rigsby, Hannah C Dunlop, Samantha M Brown, Meara H Faw, Rachel G. Lucas‐Thompson
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1111/jmft.70158 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 338 |
| Population | Romantic couples |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Depressive symptoms Dyadic adjustment Interpersonal mindfulness Mental health Mindful partnering Observational methods Romantic relationships Romantic satisfaction |
| Key findings | Greater mindful partnering predicts fewer mental health symptoms and greater relationship health. |
Abstract
Mindfulness is beneficial for mental health and romantic relationships. Recently, there has been a novel application of mindfulness to romantic relationships called "mindful partnering" (MP). Emerging evidence from interpersonal mindfulness frameworks suggests that relational forms of mindfulness may provide unique benefits for individuals and their relationships beyond those associated with partners' individual intrapersonal mindfulness. However, interpersonal mindfulness in relationships (MP) is multifaceted, and previous examinations of interpersonal mindfulness in couples have been limited by focusing on a small number of isolated features. In the current study, we applied actor-partner interdependence models in two samples (Ns = 168;170) to test how MP (including self-reports and observations) predicts mental and relational health outcomes. Results indicated that greater MP predicts fewer mental health symptoms and greater relationship health. Alongside literature supporting mindfulness as beneficial for couples, these results suggest that MP may be a strong target for couple-focused interventions.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 17
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account Current Directions in Psychological Science December 1, 2014
- Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 25, 2018
and 12 more in the library