Accuracy and bias in the perceptions of partner's negative emotions: the role of trait mindfulness.
Scientific Reports March 22, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-94581-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Dyadic observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 259 |
| Population | Heterosexual couples in romantic relationships (121 couples in Study 1; 138 couples in Study 2) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Men low in trait mindfulness overestimated their partner's negative emotions, particularly when the partner's negative emotions were higher, whereas more mindful men did not overestimate and were less perceptually sensitive to their partner's higher negative emotions. This pattern was less consistent for women. The authors suggest mindfulness may enhance relationships by reducing hypervigilance to and overestimation of a partner's negative emotions, especially for men. |
Abstract
Abstract: Theoretical and empirical work suggests that mindfulness is beneficial for close relationships. However, the ways in which mindfulness shapes important relational processes are not well understood. The current study examines the role that trait mindfulness plays in shaping people’s perceptions of their romantic partner’s emotions. In two dyadic studies (Study 1 n = 121 couples; Study 2 n = 138 couples), heterosexual couples engaged in a conversation about a problem in their relationship. Prior to the conversation, participants completed measures of their relational (Study 1) or general trait (Study 2) mindfulness, and then rated their own and their partner’s (negative) emotions immediately following the conflict. Multilevel Truth and Bias models were used to assess accuracy and bias in perceptions. Results revealed that men low in mindfulness overestimated their partner’s negative emotions especially when their partners’ negative emotions were higher, whereas more mindful men did not overestimate their partners’ negative emotions and were less perceptually sensitive to their partner’s higher levels of negative emotions. This pattern of results was less consistent for women. Overall, this study advances understanding of how mindfulness may enhance relationships by suggesting that mindfulness reduces hypervigilance to and overestimation of partner’s negative emotions, particularly for men.
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
Cited by 1
Cites 13
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account Current Directions in Psychological Science December 1, 2014
- Mindfulness and Compassion: An Examination of Mechanism and Scalability PLoS One February 17, 2015
- Dispositional mindfulness and the attenuation of neural responses to emotional stimuli Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience January 17, 2012
and 8 more in the library