Mindfulness-based relationship enhancement

James W. Carson; Kimberly M. Carson; Karen M. Gil; Donald H. Baucom

doi:10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80028-5

Mindfulness-based relationship enhancement

James W. Carson
, Kimberly M. Carson
, Karen M. Gil
, Donald H. Baucom

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

465 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using a randomized wait-list controlled design, this study evaluated the effects of a novel intervention, mindfulness-based relationship enhancement, designed to enrich the relationships of relatively happy, nondistressed couples. Results suggested the intervention was efficacious in (a) favorably impacting couples' levels of relationship satisfaction, autonomy, relatedness, closeness, acceptance of one another, and relationship distress; (b) beneficially affecting individuals' optimism, spirituality, relaxation, and psychological distress; and (c) maintaining benefits at 3-month follow-up. Those who practiced mindfulness more had better outcomes, and within-person analyses of diary measures showed greater mindfulness practice on a given day was associated on several consecutive days with improved levels of relationship happiness, relationship stress, stress coping efficacy, and overall stress.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	471-494
Number of pages	24
Journal	Behavior Therapy
Volume	35
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80028-5
State	Published - 2004
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This work is the result of a dissertation completed by James W. Carson in fulfillment of Ph.D. requirements at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under the direction of Karen M. Gil, Ph.D., and was partially supported by a grant from the University Research Council at the University of North Carolina. We acknowledge our gratitude to all those who contributed to this study, and especially to Jon Kabat-Zinn, Saki Santorelli, and their colleagues at the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, for their inspiring example and many years of work in applying mindfulness to people's needs.

Funders
University Research Council
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology

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10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80028-5

Cite this

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title = "Mindfulness-based relationship enhancement",

abstract = "Using a randomized wait-list controlled design, this study evaluated the effects of a novel intervention, mindfulness-based relationship enhancement, designed to enrich the relationships of relatively happy, nondistressed couples. Results suggested the intervention was efficacious in (a) favorably impacting couples' levels of relationship satisfaction, autonomy, relatedness, closeness, acceptance of one another, and relationship distress; (b) beneficially affecting individuals' optimism, spirituality, relaxation, and psychological distress; and (c) maintaining benefits at 3-month follow-up. Those who practiced mindfulness more had better outcomes, and within-person analyses of diary measures showed greater mindfulness practice on a given day was associated on several consecutive days with improved levels of relationship happiness, relationship stress, stress coping efficacy, and overall stress.",

author = "Carson, \{James W.\} and Carson, \{Kimberly M.\} and Gil, \{Karen M.\} and Baucom, \{Donald H.\}",

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doi = "10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80028-5",

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pages = "471--494",

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AU - Carson, Kimberly M.

AU - Gil, Karen M.

AU - Baucom, Donald H.

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Mindfulness-based relationship enhancement

Abstract

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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