A Multilevel Diary and Dyadic Study Exploring the Link Between New Parents’ Mindfulness and Relationship Satisfaction

Although recent cross-sectional studies have shown a positive link between mindfulness and relationship satisfaction, diary and dyadic studies exploring this association are scarce and limited, especially in populations at risk for abating relationship satisfaction, such as new parents. It is currently unknown whether a new parent’s mindfulness is associated with their partner’s relationship satisfaction on a daily basis.

The present study explores this dyadic link using two measures of mindfulness (general and relational mindfulness) in a sample of couples transitioning into parenthood (M = 5.89 months postpartum). In total, 78 couples (n = 156 participants; 1506 observations) took part in this study. For 14 consecutive days, couples completed diaries measuring their general and relational mindfulness, as well as their relationship satisfaction. Data were analyzed using multilevel modelling for distinguishable dyads.

Overall, on days when new parents reported more general mindfulness and relational mindfulness than their habitual level, they reported more relationship satisfaction. We also found mirrored partner effects. On days when new parents reported more relational mindfulness than usual, their partner also reported greater relational satisfaction.

This work extends previous research by showing that daily variations in general and relational mindfulness are linked to daily variations in relationship satisfaction.

This study was not preregistered.