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Intimate Partners’ Perspectives on the Relational Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training: A Qualitative Research Study

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Abstract

Using general systems theory, we describe findings from a larger qualitative phenomenological study that examined the relational effects of mindfulness training when one member of a couple completed an 8-week, mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) in the last 6 months. In this segment of the larger qualitative study, we describe what intimate partners observed and if they experienced any direct benefits from the graduates’ individual MBSR training. Eleven primarily White, college-educated couples (nine heterosexual and two same sex couples) participated in the larger study; average relationship length was 13.8 years. The following three major themes and seven subthemes emerged for the 11 intimate partners of MBSR graduates: (1) positive observations (general positive perception, graduate’s improved emotional balance); (2) perceived impact (perception of communications, impact on intimate partner and relationship); and (3) meaning making (appreciation, incongruence of meaning, continuing practice). Findings suggest intimate partners observed improved emotional balance in MBSR graduates, but reported that behavioral changes were limited in scale and just emerging. Developing mindfulness-enhanced couple interventions that target dyadic outcomes could improve the relational benefits of mindfulness practice. Future studies should examine emotion regulation as a potential relational pathway of mindfulness and include more diverse samples of couples.

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Acknowledgments

We offer sincere gratitude to all of the couples who volunteered for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mindfulness Program, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, 621 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA

    Bob Gillespie

  2. Department of Couple and Family Therapy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA

    Maureen P. Davey

  3. Private Practice, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Kimberly Flemke

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  1. Bob Gillespie
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  2. Maureen P. Davey
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  3. Kimberly Flemke
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Correspondence to Bob Gillespie.

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Gillespie, B., Davey, M.P. & Flemke, K. Intimate Partners’ Perspectives on the Relational Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training: A Qualitative Research Study. Contemp Fam Ther 37, 396–407 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-015-9350-x

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