The influence of mindfulness on intimate relationships

Abstract

Abstract: Mindfulness in an intimate relationship indicates the conscious attention to feelings or thoughts paid by individuals that may affect the relationship. It has gradually attracted academic attention in theory and applications research because of its contributions to improve relationship satisfaction and buffer conflicts. The theoretical framework of interaction patterns between partners helps to understand the process and outcomes of intimate relationships at the level of the dyad. Researchers usually use self-report questionnaires, laboratory-based inductions and mindfulness interventions to explore the effects of mindfulness on intimate relationships. Since mindfulness intervention has a protective and remedial function for intimate relationships, it is applied to different relationship states such as relative happiness, facing challenges, and falling into crisis. Future research consists of four aspects. Firstly, constructing the theory based on the staged characteristics and possible reverse effects; secondly, conceptualizing the theoretical definition from multi-dimensional as well as dynamic perspective by relying on the interaction pattern and staged characteristics of the intimate relationship following by the measurement through the mutual evaluation or observational coding; thirdly, using robust designs to clarify the effects of interventions and finally paying attention to potential adverse effects.