Greater mindfulness does not influence sexual satisfaction but is independently associated with lower relationship satisfaction
Selim Arpacıoğlu, Zeynep Beyza Arpacıoğlu, Gozde Avsar
Istanbul Kent University Institutional Repository 2023 DOI: 10.1080/14681994.2023.2259821?scroll=top&needaccess=true (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 276 |
| Population | Adults in a relationship, regardless of marriage |
| Measures | Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI), New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Higher mindfulness and older age were associated with lower relationship satisfaction, while shorter relationship duration and being male were associated with greater sexual satisfaction; arranged marriage and cohabiting with a partner were associated with lower sexual satisfaction. Sexual and relationship satisfaction were closely associated and each was identified as an independent factor for the other. |
Abstract
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to elucidate whether mindfulness was associated with relationship and/or sexual satisfaction among individuals in a regular relationship and to assess potential links with other factors. The research group consisted of 276 adults who were in a relationship regardless of marriage. Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI), New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS) were applied to all individuals. In the study group, 160 (58%) of the individuals were female, 116 (42%) were male, 62.3% were married, 59.8% were self-acquainted with their partner and 67.4% lived together with their partner or with their partner and children. Factors contributing to greater sexual satisfaction were shorter relationship duration and being a male, while those with an arranged marriage and those cohabiting with their partner had lower sexual satisfaction. Older age and, very interestingly, higher levels of mindfulness were associated with lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Finally, sexual and relationship satisfaction were closely associated and were respectively identified as independent factors for CSI and NSSS scores. There is a need for more comprehensive longitudinal studies evaluating relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction to assess causal relationships and to identify interventions that could benefit relationships.
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 |