Mindfulness Matters: Examining the Role of Dispositional Mindfulness in Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Functioning in Long-Distance Relationships
Leena Anand, Bassam Khoury, Steff Du Bois
The Family Journal May 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/10664807261436775 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey study Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 97 |
| Population | Postsecondary students or romantic partners of postsecondary students, aged 18–35, in long-distance relationships |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The nonjudging mindfulness facet uniquely predicted higher relationship satisfaction and trust and lower romantic distress, and was associated with fewer physical and mental health symptoms; observing predicted sexual functioning. Nonjudging also mediated the association between relationship satisfaction and health. The authors argue these facet-level patterns diverge from general relationship literature, suggesting greater reliance on cognitive-oriented facets in long-distance relationships. |
Abstract
Long-distance relationships (LDR) are increasingly common among postsecondary students, yet few studies have examined how dispositional mindfulness (DM) supports relational and health functioning in this context. This study tested: (a) the differential contribution of DM facets to interpersonal and intrapersonal outcomes, and (b) the mediating role of DM facets in the association between relationship satisfaction and health. Participants ( N = 97) were postsecondary students or romantic partners of postsecondary students (aged 18–35) who completed an online survey. FDR-corrected stepwise linear regressions examined facet-level predictors, and parallel multiple mediation tested indirect effects between relationship satisfaction and health through DM facets. The nonjudging facet uniquely predicted higher satisfaction and trust, and lower romantic distress, whereas observing predicted sexual functioning. Nonjudging was also associated with fewer physical and mental health symptoms. Nonreacting and describing explained smaller effects for select psychological outcomes. Mediation analyses revealed that nonjudging mediated the link between satisfaction and health. Findings highlight nonjudging as a central predictor of overall functioning in LDR. Facet-level patterns diverged from the general relationship literature, suggesting greater reliance on cognitive-oriented facets in LDR. Mediation results advance the theoretical understanding of partnership-health associations. Considering the cross-sectional design, future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify temporal pathways.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Meta-analytic evidence for effects of mindfulness training on dimensions of self-reported dispositional mindfulness. Psychological Assessment 2016
- Mindfulness-Based Couple Interventions: A Systematic Literature Review. Family Process June 11, 2021
- The Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Affective Symptoms: A Meta-analysis of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) Clinical Psychology Review November 11, 2019
- Mindfulness Training and Physical Health: Mechanisms and Outcomes Psychosomatic Medicine April 1, 2019
and 3 more in the library