None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Existing literature has demonstrated that attachment insecurities are associated with a range of negative relationship outcomes, including greater fears of rejection, more destructive relationship behaviours, more frequent and severe conflict, and more maladaptive sexual motivations, appraisals and behaviours. Unsurprisingly, these experiences can minimise the benefit that healthy romantic relationships can offer and increase the likelihood of relationship break-up. The proposed study seeks to examine whether a mindfulness intervention can support insecurely attached individuals to more effectively manage the experience and expression of their attachment concerns. More specifically, we seek to determine whether a mindfulness intervention buffers links between attachment and various negative relationship outcomes (e.g., conflict, criticism, withdrawal, felt-rejection, feelings of insecurity, maladaptive sexual motives). Two-hundred participants will complete questionnaires online at baseline and for 7-days pre-intervention. They will then participate in a 4-week online mindfulness intervention, followed by completing another 7-days of answer brief questionnaires each day. Questionnaires will assess attachment orientation, dispositional mindfulness, and feelings and behaviours within relationships. Analyses will test whether any benefits associated with the mindfulness intervention on relationship outcomes are comparably evidenced at high versus low attachment anxiety.
Interventions
Participants will participate in a 4-week mindfulness intervention. This will involve listening to 10-minute audio-guided exercises every day for 4 weeks. Exercises consist of the following components: (1) practical instructions about posture, (2) short grounding in present moment experiences by paying attention to posture and the breath, (3) directing of attention towards experiences (thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations), (4) instruction to develop an attitude of non-judgment and acceptan
Participants will participate in a 4-week mindfulness intervention. This will involve listening to 10-minute audio-guided exercises every day for 4 weeks. Exercises consist of the following components: (1) practical instructions about posture, (2) short grounding in present moment experiences by paying attention to posture and the breath, (3) directing of attention towards experiences (thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations), (4) instruction to develop an attitude of non-judgment and acceptance toward experiences, and (5) instructions to carry this quality of awareness into interpersonal interactions with others and especially a romantic partner. Over the course of the 4 weeks, participants will be offered 4 different versions of this exercise – with each recording differing slightly in wording (i.e. on Day 1 of the intervention, participants will receive Version 1 of the recording, Day 2 = Version 2, Day 3 = Version 3, Day 4 = Version 4, Day 5 = Version 1, Day 6 = Version 2, Day 7 = Version 3, etc). Participants will not be able to choose which version they would prefer to receive throughout the intervention. To monitor adherence, participants will be asked to report whether they listened to the audio recording each day. Recordings will be hosted on REDcap. Links to the recordings will be delivered via text or email to participants early each morning. If participants have not completed the activity by 7.30pm that evening, participants will be sent a reminder to listen to the recording. The recordings will be done via a PhD candidate who is also undergoing training to teach the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme.
Sponsors
University of Auckland
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Prevention
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Participants need to be over 18 years of age, a resident in NZ, fluent in English, have a smartphone, be in a romantic relationship lasting at least a year, and be living together with their partner.
Exclusion criteria
If participants are currently undergoing relationship therapy they will not be eligible for the study
Outcome results
None listed