Is mindful partnering associated with physiological reactivity to marital conflict?

Seiter, Natasha S., author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel G., author

Is mindful partnering associated with physiological reactivity to marital conflict?

dc.contributor.author	Seiter, Natasha S., author
dc.contributor.author	Lucas-Thompson, Rachel G., author
dc.date.accessioned	2022-01-24T17:16:21Z
dc.date.available	2022-01-24T17:16:21Z
dc.date.issued	2021-11
dc.description	Human Development and Family Studies co-author: Dr. Rachel Lucas-Thompson.	en_US
dc.description.abstract	Research suggests that high physiological reactivity to marital conflict may serve as a source of chronic stress that leads to negative health outcomes (Wanic & Kulik, 2011), as well as divorce and lower marital quality (Gottman, 2014). Mindful partnering, a newly conceptualized construct to measure interpersonal mindfulness in the relationship with one's intimate partner, may be associated with lesser physiological reactivity to marital conflict, and we hypothesized such an association in this research. Seventeen couple pairs (N= 34) visited the laboratory to complete several tasks, including questionnaires and a conflict discussion in which they discussed the largest areas of conflict in their relationship. Participants had their Respiratory Sinus Arrythmia (RSA), a measure of nervous system activation, measured during the baseline period and conflict discussion. Participants completed the Mindful Partnering Measure (MPM) to measure the extent to which one demonstrates mindful partnering in their relationship with their romantic partner. Regression analyses suggested that MPM-Mindful Awareness significantly predicted partner’s greater RSA, indicating that 9% of the variance in RSA-R was accounted for by partner’s MPM- mindful awareness (a small effect), suggesting greater relaxation and a less pronounced stress response. These results suggest that when one’s partner is fully present and attentive, it may relieve the potential stress of marital disagreement. Being present with full attention in this way may soothe a partner's nervous system by creating a feeling of being fully listened to and understood in the context of conflict.	en_US
dc.format.extent	30 seconds (30 second pitch); 3 minutes 2 seconds (3 minute talk)
dc.format.medium	born digital
dc.format.medium	motion pictures (visual works)
dc.format.medium	digital moving image formats
dc.format.medium	Student works
dc.format.medium	posters
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10217/234331
dc.publisher	Colorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof	2021 Projects
dc.rights	Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subject	marital conflict	en_US
dc.subject	marriage	en_US
dc.subject	couple communication	en_US
dc.subject	mindfulness	en_US
dc.title	Is mindful partnering associated with physiological reactivity to marital conflict?	en_US
dc.type	Text
dc.type	MovingImage
dc.type	Image
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