Mindfulness Within Relationships: Is Partner Discrepancy Related to Relationship Satisfaction

Mindfulness has been linked with positive relationship outcomes; however, there is limited understanding regarding which facets of mindfulness are most related to couples’ relationship satisfaction and the potential role of discrepancy in mindfulness between partners for relationship satisfaction. Additionally, previous studies did not account for individuals’ well-being, a potential confounding variable in the association between mindfulness and relationship satisfaction. The present study examined the relation between each facet of mindfulness using the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire and relationship satisfaction (Couple Satisfaction Inventory), while controlling for well-being (Compass Assessment System) using Actor Partner Interdependence Models. The relation between discrepancies in partners’ mindfulness for each facet and relationship satisfaction was also assessed. It was hypothesized that actor effects in observe, acting with awareness, and non-judge mindfulness facets, and partner effects of non-react mindfulness, would predict higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Discrepancy between partners in observe, acting with awareness, non-judge, and non-react mindfulness would predict lower relationship satisfaction. A community sample of 62 cohabiting couples (M age = 35.97 years, M relationship length = 7.53 years, 74.2% married) participated in a cross-sectional study. Actor effects were found for observe mindfulness and total mindfulness predicting own relationship satisfaction, but only when not controlling for well-being. Counter to hypotheses, discrepancy in mindfulness facets between partners did not predict relationship satisfaction. These findings provide limited evidence that mindfulness facets predict relationship satisfaction. Findings from the present study outline the importance of controlling for well-being when assessing mindfulness within relationships to predict relationship outcomes. Future research should replicate these findings with a larger sample size and establish the temporal order between mindfulness, well-being, and relationship satisfaction using a longitudinal research design