The Role of Mindfulness in Relationship Satisfaction

Previous literature has defined mindfulness as open awareness to what is taking place in the present, both internally and externally, and observing with non-judgement. Recent research has found that mindfulness may facilitate greater romantic relationship satisfaction. Yet, why mindfulness may facilitate greater romantic relationship satisfaction remains unclear. What mechanisms of mindfulness facilitate greater romantic relationship satisfaction? Is it that greater mindfulness predicts greater responsiveness to a romantic partner? How is mindfulness associated with daily and overall stress? Does the effect of mindfulness on daily stress play a role in predicting greater relationship satisfaction? In order to examine these questions, we recruited 100 undergraduate students currently involved in romantic relationships at Kent State University, who completed a one-hour intake questionnaire and a 10 minute survey each evening before going to bed for the next 12 days. Participants were on average 20.3 years old (range 18-29), 76% female, 23% male, and 1% self-reported as binary. Analysis is currently being performed on the collected data. We expect to find that greater levels of mindfulness will facilitate greater levels of overall and daily responsiveness, which will then facilitate greater levels of relationship satisfaction. We also expect to find that greater levels of mindfulness will facilitate lower levels of overall and daily stress and will, therefore, facilitate greater levels of relationship satisfaction. The results will be presented, and implications of the findings will be discussed.