Faculty-Student Collaboration
1
Faculty Sponsor(s)
John Thoburn, Ph.D.
Presentation Type
Event
Project Type
Completed quantitative research study
Primary Department
Clinical Psychology
Description
The purpose of this study was to explore the interaction between length of marriage and trait mindfulness on marital satisfaction. Although previous research has demonstrated that both length of marriage and trait mindfulness positively predict marital satisfaction, research has yet to explore the interaction between the two. Thus, our study adds to the existing literature by exploring the relationship between length of marriage and marital satisfaction, moderated by mindfulness. Because mindfulness has been shown to both act as a buffer against stress and to have a positive relationship with marital satisfaction, we hypothesized that trait mindfulness would moderate the relationship between length of marriage and marital satisfaction. More specifically, we hypothesized that (a) length of marriage would positively predict marital satisfaction, and (b) mindfulness would moderate this relationship, such that those in short-term marriages who are high in trait mindfulness will demonstrate higher marital satisfaction than those in both long and short-term marriages with low trait mindfulness. Participants (N = 331) indicated how long they had been married and then completed measures of mindfulness (FFMQ-SF) and marital satisfaction (KMSS). Results indicated that neither trait mindfulness nor length of marriage predicted marital satisfaction. Moreover, contrary to our hypothesis, the interaction between length of marriage and trait mindfulness was also nonsignificant. Follow-up analyses indicated significant differences in trait mindfulness, but not marital satisfaction between groups. Limitations of the current study and implications for future research in this area are discussed.
Copyright Status
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Additional Rights Information
Copyright held by author(s).
Mindful marriage: Exploring the interaction between mindfulness and length of marriage
The purpose of this study was to explore the interaction between length of marriage and trait mindfulness on marital satisfaction. Although previous research has demonstrated that both length of marriage and trait mindfulness positively predict marital satisfaction, research has yet to explore the interaction between the two. Thus, our study adds to the existing literature by exploring the relationship between length of marriage and marital satisfaction, moderated by mindfulness. Because mindfulness has been shown to both act as a buffer against stress and to have a positive relationship with marital satisfaction, we hypothesized that trait mindfulness would moderate the relationship between length of marriage and marital satisfaction. More specifically, we hypothesized that (a) length of marriage would positively predict marital satisfaction, and (b) mindfulness would moderate this relationship, such that those in short-term marriages who are high in trait mindfulness will demonstrate higher marital satisfaction than those in both long and short-term marriages with low trait mindfulness. Participants (N = 331) indicated how long they had been married and then completed measures of mindfulness (FFMQ-SF) and marital satisfaction (KMSS). Results indicated that neither trait mindfulness nor length of marriage predicted marital satisfaction. Moreover, contrary to our hypothesis, the interaction between length of marriage and trait mindfulness was also nonsignificant. Follow-up analyses indicated significant differences in trait mindfulness, but not marital satisfaction between groups. Limitations of the current study and implications for future research in this area are discussed.
Rights Statement
Comments
This poster was also presented at Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR, April 2018