Mindful Mates: A Pilot Study of the Relational Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Participants and Their Partners.
Alexander Khaddouma, Kristina Coop Gordon, Elizabeth B Strand
Family Process September 2017 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12226 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | 20 MBSR participants and their 20 nonenrolled romantic partners |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | Pre- and post-MBSR course |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Atención plena Mindfulness-based stress reduction Relationship satisfaction 关系满意度 正念性为基础的减压方法 |
| Key points | Enrolled MBSR participants significantly improved on all facets of mindfulness and relationship satisfaction, while nonenrolled partners did not significantly increase on any facet or on relationship satisfaction. Enrolled participants' increases in Acting with Awareness were positively associated with increases in their own and their partners' relationship satisfaction, whereas increases in Nonreactivity were positively associated with partners' satisfaction but not their own. |
Abstract
Very little is currently known about how increases in dispositional mindfulness through mindfulness training affect the quality of participants' romantic relationships, and no previous studies have examined how increases in specific facets of mindfulness differentially contribute to relationship health. Additionally, even less is known about how an individual's development of mindfulness skills affects the relationship satisfaction of his or her romantic partner. Thus, the purpose of this pilot study was to examine associations between changes in facets of mindfulness and relationship satisfaction among participants enrolled in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course and their nonenrolled romantic partners. Twenty MBSR participants and their nonenrolled partners (n = 40) completed measures of mindfulness and relationship satisfaction pre- and post-enrolled partners' completion of an MBSR course. Results indicated that enrolled participants significantly improved on all facets of mindfulness and relationship satisfaction, while nonenrolled partners did not significantly increase on any facet of mindfulness or relationship satisfaction. Moreover, enrolled participants' increases in Acting with Awareness were positively associated with increases in their own and their nonenrolled partners' relationship satisfaction, whereas increases in enrolled participants' Nonreactivity were positively associated with increases in their nonenrolled partners' (but not their own) relationship satisfaction. These results suggest that increasing levels of mindfulness (particularly specific aspects of mindfulness) may have positive effects on couples' relationship satisfaction and highlight mindfulness training as a promising tool for education and intervention efforts aimed at promoting relational health.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Mindfulness in Relationships: Eight-Week Mindfulness Intervention Associated with Decreased Negative Emotion and Increased Nonreactivity in Non-meditating Romantic Partners Mindfulness March 6, 2026
- The Subjective Experience of Greek Women Attending a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program The European Journal of Counselling Psychology October 21, 2025
- Mindfulness Matters: Examining the Role of Dispositional Mindfulness in Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Functioning in Long-Distance Relationships The Family Journal May 20, 2026
- Trait Mindfulness and Depression in Latino Couples: The Mediating Role of Relationship Satisfaction Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 2026
- The Power of Mindfulness: Examining Power Imbalances, Mindfulness, and Couples' Relational and Sexual Well-Being. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy August 11, 2023
and 4 more in the library
Cites 18
- 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
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- How long does a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program need to be? A review of class contact hours and effect sizes for psychological distress Journal of Clinical Psychology March 23, 2009
and 13 more in the library