The mediating role of empathy in the relationship between mindfulness and couple satisfaction

Previous studies showed that trait mindfulness is positively associated with couple satisfaction. However, little is known about the mechanisms through which mindfulness abilities might promote relationship satisfaction. This study explored whether empathy mediates the effect of mindfulness on couple satisfaction in emerging adults. Participants were 218 young adults (71% females; mean age = 22.2 yr, SD = 2.9) involved in a dating relationship. Subjects completed self-report measures of mindfulness (Observing, Describing, Acceptance and Acting with Awareness), cognitive and affective empathy, and couple satisfaction. The possible role of empathy as mediator of mindfulness effect on couple satisfaction was investigated by mediation analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided at a significance level of 0.05. Couple satisfaction was positively correlated with Observing and Acting with Awareness and with both components of empathy. Observing was positively correlated with cognitive and affective empathy, while Acting with Awareness was negatively associated with the affective component. Cognitive empathy mediated the effect of Observing on couple satisfaction. Acting with Awareness indirectly decreased couple satisfaction by decreasing affective empathy, but also had an outweighing positive direct effect on couple satisfaction. Findings indicate that couple satisfaction is associated with specific facets of mindfulness in young adults. Furthermore, the ability to notice internal and external events may promote higher couple satisfaction by fostering the ability to understand how the partner feels. Acting with Awareness seems to have a double-edge effect on couple satisfaction in young adults: a positive direct effect outbalances a negative indirect effect mediated by a decrease in affective empathy.