Researchers at the University of Georgia surveyed more than 400 couples with children who were receiving government services, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and food assistance. The study asked partners about their level of mindfulness — being present and accepting — and about their confidence that the relationship would remain strong under stress.
Higher mindfulness linked clearly to greater confidence that the relationship could survive difficulties. Couples with higher mindfulness described better relationship quality and stronger cooperation as co-parents, showing a spillover between romantic partnership and parenting. Lead author Evin Richardson noted that if a person struggles to be present, it can harm the couple relationship; people who are more mindful feel better able to manage conflict and communicate.
- Mindful meditation
- Prayer
- Gratitude practices
- Breathing exercises
The study observed gender differences: when women reported higher mindfulness, their male partners were more likely to feel confident in the relationship, while greater male mindfulness showed no detectable effect on female partners. Richardson linked this pattern to prior research and social expectations that often place much relationship work on women. The work is part of the Elevate Couples Georgia project and suggests that mindfulness-focused interventions, such as couples relationship education, may help couples cope with stress and strengthen family stability. The study appears in Child & Family Social Work and received funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Source: University of Georgia.
Difficult words
- mindfulness — paying attention to the present without judgment
- spillover — effect that moves from one area to another
- co-parent — a parent who shares child care responsibilitiesco-parents
- detectable — able to be noticed or observed
- intervention — an action or program to improve a situationinterventions
- stability — condition of being steady or unlikely to change
- survey — to ask people questions to collect informationsurveyed
- confidence — strong belief that something will continue or succeed
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why might women's mindfulness have a stronger effect on their partners' confidence than men's mindfulness? Give reasons based on the article.
- Which practice from the list (mindful meditation, prayer, gratitude practices, breathing exercises) would be easiest to include in a couples program? Explain your choice.
- How could mindfulness-focused interventions help family stability for couples receiving government services? Give possible benefits and challenges.
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