Mindfulness and Romantic Relationship Outcomes: the Mediating Role of Conflict Resolution Styles and Closeness
- PDF / 360,412 Bytes
- 11 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 57 Downloads / 248 Views
ORIGINAL PAPER
Mindfulness and Romantic Relationship Outcomes: the Mediating Role of Conflict Resolution Styles and Closeness Nathalie Gesell 1
&
Frank Niklas 1 & Sandra Schmiedeler 1 & Robin Segerer 2
# The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Objectives The association of mindfulness and romantic relationship outcomes such as partnership quality and satisfaction is well-established; however, the mechanisms of action are not yet clear. The current study tested conflict resolution styles and closeness as possible mediating factors. We hypothesized that trait mindfulness would increase the use of constructive conflict resolution styles (positive problem solving), decrease the use of destructive styles (conflict engagement, withdrawal, and compliance), and promote feelings of closeness between partners, which in turn would predict positive relationship outcomes (namely partnership quality, partnership satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction). Methods A total of 209 individuals (86% German, 76% female, mean age = 32 years) living in a relationship (31% married) participated in an online questionnaire. Results Mediation analyses revealed that positive problem solving mediated the association between mindfulness and partnership quality with b = .09 (95% CI = .03–.17), mindfulness and partnership satisfaction with b = .07 (95% CI = .02–.13), and mindfulness and sexual satisfaction with b = .04 (95% CI = .00–.10). Furthermore, a mediating role of withdrawal and closeness was shown for individual relationship outcomes. Conclusions Findings suggest that more positive problem solving, less withdrawal, and more closeness are mechanisms by which mindfulness is associated with positive relationship outcomes. The results of our study thus broaden our understanding of the processes that underlie fulfilling romantic relationships and, in turn, underline the positive effects of mindfulness. Keywords Mindfulness . Trait mindfulness . Romantic relationship . Relationship satisfaction . Closeness . Conflict resolution
Mindfulness is commonly defined as intentionally focusing one’s attention on the present moment in a non-judgmental attitude (Kabat-Zinn 2009). Research has found mindfulness to be related to many positive psychological outcomes such as greater wellbeing or less emotional reactivity (for review, see Keng et al. 2011). One research field that has been attracting much interest in recent years is the relation of mindfulness with romantic relationship outcomes such as partnership quality and satisfaction as well as sexual satisfaction (for a review, see Atkinson 2013). Partnership satisfaction is defined as the
* Nathalie Gesell [email protected] 1
Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Röntgenring 10, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
2
Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Missionsstraße 60/ 62, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
subjective evaluation of one’s own intimate relationship (Dinkel & Balck 2005), whereas partnership quality refers primarily to behaviors that contribute to satisfaction such as a high proportion
Data Loading...
