Mindfulness and individual, relational, and parental outcomes during the transition to parenthood

Abstract

With more than one million couples transitioning to parenthood each year, finding ways to enable healthier transitions is salient. Trait mindful awareness and sexual mindfulness were examined in an Actor Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) framework using 169 mixed-sex, married couples to evaluate their association with individual, relational, and parental outcomes. For couples who have transitioned to parenthood, mothers’ trait mindfulness was associated with their own higher mental health and fathers; trait mindfulness was associated with their own higher quality mental health; mothers’ and fathers’ sexually mindful nonjudgment, an ability to remain mindful during sex, was associated with fathers’ higher quality mental health and mothers’ sexually mindful nonjudgment was associated with their own higher quality mental health. Mothers’ trait mindfulness was also associated with their report of lower pregnancy and delivery stress. Higher reports of sexual nonjudgement by both mothers and father were also associated with higher parenting satisfaction for fathers. Thus, mindfulness and sexual mindfulness may be particularly important skills to support new parents’ mental health, relational satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and parenting satisfaction. Transition to parenthood scholars and practitioners have long been invested in understanding risk and protective factors for new parents and are commonly seeking important points of education and/or intervention to support this transition. Our study suggests mindfulness may both reduce risk and promote healthy behaviors that support mothers, fathers, and their relationship.

The central role of mindful parenting in child’s emotional regulation and human flourishing: a blueprint perspective

“…Therefore, participating in a mindfulness-based program that significantly reduces levels of stress, depression, and anxiety and improves maternal wellbeing could reduce the risk for psychological disorders and health problems in the infant and child. Studies provided consistent evidence of mindfulness practices improving health outcomes during pregnancy and the post-partum period, promoting healthy behaviors that support the relationship between mothers and fathers and the transition to parenthood ( Dhillon et al, 2017 ; Babbar et al, 2021 ; Leavitt et al, 2023 ). Mindfulness has been considered a protective factor fostering positive attachment and child development and behavior outcomes ( Waters, 2016 ).…”

Mindfulness, awareness, partner caring, and romantic relationship quality: Structural equation modeling

“…According to Kabat-Zinn (1994), mindfulness can be defined as a state of awareness that takes place through "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally" (p. 4). In addition, mindfulness has also been conceptualized as a human being's inherent capacity (i.e., one's stable characteristics) called trait mindfulness (Brown et al, 2007;Kabat-Zinn, 1990), as well as a state of being and the subject of change (i.e., a teachable concept) (Leavitt et al, 2023). Mindfulness can also refer to the ability to maintain one's attention on reality in the present while embracing and welcoming it (Kabat-Zinn, 1990).…”