A couples’ relationship education intervention examining sexual mindfulness and trait mindfulness

Chelom E. Leavitt, David B. Allsop, Joanna Gurr, Elizabeth Fawcett, Jeremy Boden, Shayla Driggs, Alan J. Hawkins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Much of the research on mindfulness training has focused on individuals and little has evaluated mindfulness training and education in the context of romantic relationships. Mindfulness practiced by committed partners has been linked to greater empathy, perspective taking, and overall marital satisfaction. However, no relationship education program includes training on how mindfulness may benefit a couple’s sexual relationship. Sexual mindfulness is a new area of research that preliminarily has shown that sexual mindfulness may benefit individuals and couples above and beyond mindfulness alone. To build on the small amount of research that indicates mindfulness and sexual mindfulness may benefit romantic relationships, we compared heterosexual couples in a mindfulness-only intervention comparison group (n = 66 individuals) to couples in a sexual-mindfulness intervention treatment group (n = 83 individuals). Couples in both groups were taught about mindfulness, communication, and effective problem solving. Participants in the treatment group were given addition information about sexual mindfulness. The two-session, six-hour intervention found that both groups improved in all metrics. The sexual-mindfulness group made greater improvements in sexual mindfulness awareness. Implications about how sexual mindfulness may benefit relationship education programs and therapists’ practice are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)984-996
Number of pages13
JournalSexual and Relationship Therapy
Volume39
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • communication
  • Mindfulness
  • relational satisfaction
  • relationship education
  • sexual mindfulness
  • sexual satisfaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A couples’ relationship education intervention examining sexual mindfulness and trait mindfulness'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this