The effect of dispositional mindfulness on positive illusions in romantic relationships: dyadic approach

Abstract

Implicit beliefs and cognitions largely direct behavioral and emotional interaction between intimate partners which in turn determines relationship satisfaction of both partners. Positive illusions, based on automatic thinking, represent a possible strategy for coping with relationship stress caused by the discrepancy between ideal and perceived partner’s attributes. Contrary, research suggests that mindfulness, a conscious alternative to functioning on automatic pilot, has numerous benefits on relationship satisfaction and partner dynamic. However, the role of mindfulness in the context of relationship cognition is still not fully researched. The aim of this research was to examine the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and positive illusions about intimate partners. Survey was conducted online, and it included participants living in Croatia. Dyadic analysis included 106 heterosexual couples (mean age for women was 23.17 years, and for men 24.54 years) who were in a relationship for at least 6 months. Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale – MAAS is used as a measure of dispositional mindfulness, and Interpersonal Qualities Scale as a measure of partners’ positive illusions. The actor and partner effects of dispositional mindfulness on illusory perception of partners’ attributes were tested by Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Contrary to hypothesized, mindfulness did not negatively affect biased perception of intimate partner. Partner effects for both men and women, and men’s actor effect are shown to be significant in our model, suggesting that dispositional mindfulness contributed positively to partner’s illusory perception of their intimate partner attributes, on both dyad level and individual level only for men.