State Mindful Attention Awareness as a Dyadic Protective Factor During COVID-19: a Daily Diary Study

Abstract

Objectives Accumulating evidence suggests that mindfulness, as a trait, can be a form of personal resilience to stress. However, mindfulness is considered a present-moment state which makes it important to focus on its state-level (vs. trait-level) effects. Modern theories of stress suggest that coping with stress often involves interpersonal processes, and it is therefore valuable to clarify mindfulness interpersonal (vs. intrapersonal) stress-buffering effects. The current study examined mindful attention awareness as a dyadic protective factor at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A convenience sample of 72 cohabiting romantic couples participated in a 21-day daily diary study. The background (pre-diary) questionnaire assessed their experience of COVID-related stressors (e.g., financial and health-related burdens). The diary assessed state mindful attention awareness, mood, COVID-related stress, relationship satisfaction, and perceived partner responsiveness (PPR). Results A series of Actor-Partner Interdependence Multilevel Models were used to analyze the dyadic data. Actor state mindful awareness was associated with better daily personal (mood and stress) and relational (PPR and satisfaction) outcomes. Partner state mindful awareness was associated with higher PPR. Actor state mindful awareness also attenuated the association between pre-diary COVID-related stressors and daily COVID-related stress. Conclusion State mindfulness may serve as a dyadic protective factor when couples face stressful circumstances.

Resetting relationship trajectories: A reconceptualization of the relationship repair process

“…Methods such as event sampling (e.g.,. Hui & Kogan, 2018;Rinner et al, 2022), diary studies (e.g., Conway & Briner, 2002;Goldring & Bolger, 2022;Johnson et al, 2022;Perelman et al, 2022), and the narrative interview protocols used by close relationships researchers (Baxter, 1984;Buehlman & Gottman, 1996;Eastwick et al, 2018) would better equip us to trace the formation of relationship trajectories, and the impact of relationship threats. These methodological tools would position researchers to trace long-term relationship trends, map the impact of relationships threats and relationship repair actions, and link these to broader interpersonal and organizational outcomes.…”

“…To date, scholars have taken several approaches to studying relationship events and their unfolding impact. Daily diary studies (e.g., Conway & Briner, 2002; Goldring & Bolger, 2022; Johnson et al, 2022; Perelman et al, 2022) and event sampling methodologies (e.g., Hui & Kogan, 2018; Rinner et al, 2022) most often focus on how relationship satisfaction and commitment waxes and wanes over time without necessarily documenting relationship threats or their impact. Marriage and close relationships researchers, in comparison, use retrospective interviews to identify both positive and negative key events, and model their cumulative impact on fluctuations in commitment and satisfaction over time.…”