Zen and the art of sex: examining associations among mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction in dating relationships

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the links among the five facets of trait mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction in dating relationships. Three hundred and twenty-two individuals in a current dating relationship completed measures of trait mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Results of path analyses indicated that sexual satisfaction fully mediated the associations between the Observing (PE D .08, CI D [.02, .15]) and Nonjudging of Inner Experience (PE D .11, CI D [.03, .19]) facets of mindfulness and relationship satisfaction. In contrast, the three remaining facets of mindfulness (Describing, Acting with Awareness, and Nonreactivity to Inner Experience) were not related to sexual satisfaction or relationship satisfaction. These results suggest that attending to and noticing (but refraining from evaluating) internal and external stimuli may contribute to greater relationship satisfaction specifically by increasing sexual satisfaction with one's partner. Furthermore, findings from the current study provide empirical support for the link between mindfulness and sexual satisfaction in dating relationships and suggest that they may jointly contribute to relationship satisfaction, thus indicating an important area for future research and suggesting a potential target for relationship education and intervention efforts.

Mindful Mates: A Pilot Study of the Relational Effects of Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction on Participants and Their Partners

“…Similarly, though increases in enrolled participants’ ability to avoid getting caught up and carried away by thoughts and feelings are also associated with increases in relationship satisfaction, these effects appear to more greatly benefit the nonenrolled partners of participants in the MBSR course. Additionally, the finding that improvements in certain facets of mindfulness (i.e., Observing, Describing , and Nonjudgment ) were not associated with increases in relationship satisfaction is surprising, given previous research indicating that several of these facets (i.e., Observing and Nonjudgment ) are positively associated with greater sexual and relationship satisfaction among dating partners (Khaddouma et al., ). However, given the overall pattern of results of this pilot study, it is possible that improvements in more behaviorally oriented aspects of mindfulness, such as attending to activities of the moment with purposeful attention ( Acting with Awareness ) or remaining less reactive to cognitive and emotional stimuli ( Nonreactivity ), may have particularly beneficial effects on couples’ romantic relationships.…”

“…Similarly, do partners’ tendencies to act in the moment with purposeful attention contribute to healthier relationship functioning more so than their ability to clearly describe their experiences with words? Interestingly, in a cross‐sectional study of dating young adults, only the Observing and Nonjudging of Inner Experience facets were associated with participants’ sexual and relationship satisfaction, suggesting that the cultivation of specific mindfulness skills through mindfulness training might be most beneficial for the relationship functioning of romantic partners (Khaddouma, Gordon, & Bolden, ). Thus, longitudinal research is needed to determine how specific facets of mindfulness may differentially contribute to greater relationship satisfaction, which would better inform potential treatment targets for researchers interested in developing mindfulness‐based relationship interventions.…”

Parenting Stress and Sexual Satisfaction Among First-Time Parents: A Dyadic Approach

“…Although we have little research from which to draw for how parenting stress of one partner may influence the sexual satisfaction of the other partner, research indicates that one partner’s stress from work can influence the other partner’s well-being (Larson & Almeida, 1999; Schermerhorn, Chow, & Cummings, 2010; Thompson & Bolger, 1999). Additionally, research explains that as one partner feels greater stress or anxiety, their ability to positively communicate, emotionally connect, give attention to a partner, feel empathy, and refrain from judgment diminishes (Carson, Carson, Gil, & Baucom, 2004; Khaddouma, Gordon, & Bolden, 2015). …”

Female Sexual Functioning, Self-genital Image and Sexual Anxiety: Mediating Role of Awareness the Moment

“…According to findings from this hypothesis, the momentary awareness seems to modify the relationship between anxiety and sexual function. In other words, sexual anxiety decreases by focusing on the momentary awareness, and thus, the sexual function is improved (Bradford & Meston, 2006;Brassard et al, 2015;Khaddouma et al, 2015;Lazaridou & Kalogianni, 2013;McCabe, 2005;Van Minnen & Kampman, 2000;Watts & Nettle, 2010).…”

“…Accordingly, it is possible that aspects related to mind-awareness be associated with greater satisfaction of sexual relationship positively. Those with a higher mind-awareness have a better relationship with their partner and experience more satisfying sexual relationship (Khaddouma, Gordon, & Bolden, 2015). People with a higher mind-awareness may achieve better sexual life and better sexual function than those with lower mind-awareness.…”