Mindfulness-Based Couple Interventions: A Systematic Literature Review.
F. Winter, A. Steffan, M. Warth, B. Ditzen, Corina Aguilar-Raab
Family Process June 11, 2021 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12683 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Couples and other dyads in clinical and nonclinical settings |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Across 16 studies, mindfulness-based interventions for couples appear to increase mindfulness, self-compassion, well-being, and quality of life, with initial evidence of reduced psychopathological symptoms and improved psychobiological stress measures. Relationship quality was the predominant dyadic outcome, and the authors cautiously conclude that mindfulness trainings can enhance relationship quality. |
Abstract
Over the past decades, mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to improve individual health and well-being in clinical and nonclinical settings. More recently, secular contemplative trainings were adapted to the couple context as research showed satisfying couple relationships to be one of the strongest predictors of physical and mental health. Mindfulness-based interventions hence seem to be a promising treatment in couple counseling and therapy in both clinical and nonclinical settings. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to provide an overview of the emerging literature in the field of mindfulness-based interventions for couples and other dyads. Overall, sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. To summarize the heterogeneous quantitative literature regarding individual outcomes, mindfulness interventions for couples seem to increase mindfulness, self-compassion, well-being, and quality of life. Additionally, we found initial evidence of beneficial effects on relieving psychopathological symptoms and psychobiological stress measures. Measures of relationship quality were the predominant dyadic outcome. Based on these studies, we cautiously conclude that mindfulness trainings can enhance relationship quality. Practitioners should be aware that mindfulness-based interventions for couples can potentially improve the perceived relationship quality between partners and the individual burden. Future studies should expand the field, particularly with regard to other contemplative practices for couples such as compassion interventions.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Mindfulness Training in Military Settings: Emerging Evidence and Best-Practice Guidance. Current Psychiatry Reports June 1, 2025
- Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Couple Interventions on Psychological Distress in Patients With Cancer and Their Partners: A Critical Review. Journal of Clinical Nursing May 23, 2025
- Mindfulness-Based Programs for Perinatal Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Psychological Well-Being: A Systematic Meta-Review Mindfulness July 22, 2026
- Mindfulness in Relationships: Eight-Week Mindfulness Intervention Associated with Decreased Negative Emotion and Increased Nonreactivity in Non-meditating Romantic Partners Mindfulness March 6, 2026
- Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy With Integrated Mindfulness on Mindful Attention, Depressive Symptoms, and Dyadic Adjustment in Low‐Income Couples: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial Journal of Marital and Family Therapy October 1, 2026
and 4 more in the library
Cites 12
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 8, 2004
- Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Psychological benefits for cancer patients and their partners participating in mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Psycho-Oncology November 16, 2009
- Online Couple-Based Meditation Intervention for Patients with Primary or Metastatic Brain Tumors and their Partners: Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of Pain and Symptom Management February 13, 2020
and 7 more in the library