Lightening the load: Perceived partner responsiveness fosters more positive appraisals of relational sacrifices.

General and domain-specific (e.g., relationship-specific) mindfulness frequently predict salutary relationship outcomes. The present preregistered study examined whether general and relationship mindfulness predicted longitudinal change in positive and negative relationship quality via greater perceived partner responsiveness (PPR). One hundred couples completed a baseline lab session (Phase 1), a 14-day diary period (Phase 2), and a 2-month follow-up survey (Phase 3). Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model analyses revealed that actors’ Phase 1 relationship mindfulness—but not general mindfulness—predicted increases in their own positive relationship quality from Phase 1–3 and decreases in their own negative relationship quality from Phase 1–3 indirectly via their own Phase 2 PPR. An exploratory alternate model testing if Phase 1 PPR predicted changes in Phase 1–3 relationship quality via Phase 2 relationship mindfulness did not reveal significant indirect effects. All results held when controlling for gender, age, and relationship length, and no partner effects emerged in any analysis. These findings further elucidate the relationship-enhancing role of mindfulness in couples and highlight PPR as a critical mediator explaining the link between domain-specific mindfulness and relationship quality. Implications for mindfulness-based training programs for couples are discussed.

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Supplemental Material for Toward an Optimized Measure of Perceived Partner Responsiveness: Development and Validation of the Perceived Responsiveness and Insensitivity Scale

Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1037/pas0000986.supp ◽

2021 ◽

Keyword(s):

Perceived Responsiveness ◽

Perceived Partner Responsiveness ◽

Development And Validation ◽

Partner Responsiveness

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Perceived Partner Responsiveness Predicts Better Sleep Quality Through Lower Anxiety

Social Psychological and Personality Science ◽

10.1177/1948550616662128 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 83-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Emre Selcuk ◽

Sarah C. E. Stanton ◽

Richard B. Slatcher ◽

Anthony D. Ong

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Sleep Efficiency ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Sleep Study ◽

Sleep Behavior ◽

Subjective Sleep ◽

Perceived Partner Responsiveness ◽

Partner Responsiveness

The present study investigated whether perceived partner responsiveness—the extent to which individuals feel cared for, understood, and validated by their partner—predicted subjective sleep problems and objective (actigraph-based) sleep efficiency through lower anxiety and depression symptoms. A life span sample of 698 married or cohabiting adults (35–86 years old) completed measures of perceived partner responsiveness and subjective sleep problems. A subset of the sample ( N = 219) completed a weeklong sleep study where actigraph-based measures of sleep efficiency were obtained. Perceived partner responsiveness predicted lower self-reported global sleep problems through lower anxiety and depression and greater actigraph-assessed sleep efficiency through lower anxiety. All indirect associations held after controlling for emotional support provision to the partner, agreeableness, and demographic and health covariates known to affect sleep quality. These findings are among the first to demonstrate how perceived partner responsiveness, a core aspect of romantic relationships, is linked to sleep behavior.

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Effect of a Responsiveness-based support intervention on smokeless tobacco cessation: The UCare-ChewFree randomized clinical trial

10.31234/osf.io/u9bfm ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Laura Akers ◽

Judy A. Andrews ◽

Edward Lichtenstein ◽

Herbert H. Severson ◽

Judith S. Gordon

Keyword(s):

Smokeless Tobacco ◽

Tobacco Cessation ◽

Male Partner ◽

Negative Behaviors ◽

Delayed Treatment ◽

Female Partners ◽

Supportive Behaviors ◽

Perceived Partner Responsiveness ◽

Partner Behaviors ◽

Partner Responsiveness

Introduction. Partner behaviors and attitudes can motivate and encourage, or conversely undermine, a tobacco user’s cessation efforts. Previous partner support interventions for tobacco cessation have largely focused on positive and negative behaviors. We developed a theoretically based intervention (UCare) for women who wanted their male partner to quit smokeless tobacco, based on perceived partner responsiveness--the finding that support is best received when the supporter conveys respect, understanding, and caring.Methods. We recruited 1,145 women and randomized them to receive either immediate access to the UCare website and printed booklet (Intervention), or to a Delayed Treatment control. We assessed supportive behaviors and attitudes at baseline and six-week follow-up, and the ST-using partner's abstinence at six weeks and 7.5 months (surrogate report).Results. For partners of women assigned to Intervention, 7.0% had quit all tobacco at 7.5 months, compared with 6.6% for control (n.s.). For partners of women completing the intervention, 12.4% had quit all tobacco at 7.5 months, compared with 6.6% for Delayed Treatment (p<.01). Change in responsiveness-based behaviors and instrumental behaviors at six weeks mediated 7.5-month cessation, and change in responsiveness-based attitudes mediated the change in responsiveness-based behaviors, indirectly increasing cessation.Conclusions. A responsiveness-based intervention with female partners of male smokeless tobacco users improved supportive attitudes and behaviors, leading to higher cessation rates among tobacco users not actively seeking to quit. The study demonstrates the potential for responsiveness as a basis for effective intervention with supporters, and this approach may reach tobacco users who would not directly seek help.

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