Mindfulness helpful to your relationship

Mindfulness can be defined as an open or a receptive attention to and awareness of what is taking place, both internally and externally, in the present. Recently, researchers found a connection between mindfulness, relationship satisfaction, and adaptive responses to relationship stress. An article published in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy offers additional scientific support for the increasing number of therapy clinicians’ use of mindfulness meditation for a range of mental health and relationship issues.

Two studies examined the role of mindfulness in romantic relationship satisfaction and responses to relationship stress. In Study 1, a longitudinal design was utilized with 82 “steadily” dating college students. Results showed that higher trait mindfulness predicted higher relationship satisfaction and greater capacities to respond constructively to relationship stress. In Study 2, 57 heterosexual couples were observed before, during, and after an argument. Questionnaires were also given. Mindfulness was found to predict lower emotional stress responses and positive perception of the relationship. State mindfulness was related to better communication quality during the discussion. Both studies indicated that mindfulness may play an influential role in romantic relationship well-being.

Mindfulness offers a valuable conceptualization. Research has shown that mindfulness may be an important part of relationship success. Current scientific evidence suggests that increasing mindfulness through therapeutic techniques may serve to foster positive responses to stress and increase relationship satisfaction.

Reference
Barnes, S., Brown, K. W., Krusemark, E., Campbell, W. K., & Rogge, R. D. (2007). The role of mindfulness in romantic relationship satisfaction and responses to relationship stress. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33, 482-500.