Exploring the links between psychological flexibility, individual well‐being, and relationship quality

Karen Twiselton,Ewan Bottomley,Sarah C E Stanton,David Gillanders

doi:10.1111/pere.12344

Karen Twiselton, Ewan Bottomley + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12344

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Journal: Personal Relationships	Publication Date: Nov 9, 2020
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Edinburgh

Abstract

AbstractThe ability to engage flexibly with thoughts and behavior in line with the demands of a situation—termed psychological flexibility—has been linked to individual well‐being. This registered report presents two studies that investigate the links between psychological flexibility, individual well‐being, and relationship quality. Using structural equation modeling, Study 1 found that people who were more psychologically flexible reported higher levels of positive affect and lower levels of negative affect, which in turn were associated with higher relationship quality. Using dyadic mediation analysis, Study 2 replicated and extended these findings in a sample of 200 romantic couples, revealing both actor and partner effects. This research offers insight into the implications of psychological flexibility for relationship functioning.

Highlights

A wealth of literature testifies to the beneficial links between the positive features of romantic relationships and health and well-being (Holt-Lunstad, 2018; Stanton, Slatcher, & Reis, 2019; Uchino, 2009), with a growing number of studies investigating these benefits at both the individual and couple levels (Debrot, Cook, Perrez, & Horn, 2012; Stanton, Spence, Kähkönen, & Dobson, 2020; Stavrova, 2019)
Greater psychological flexibility is associated with an enhanced ability to recognize and adapt to situational demands (Waugh, Thompson, & Gotlib, 2011), shift mindsets and behavior to accommodate social and personal functioning (Kashdan & Rottenberg, 2010), maintain and balance life demands (Gloster, Meyer, & Lieb, 2017), and identify and commit to behaviors congruent with deeply held beliefs (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2016), all of which are critical to healthy psychological functioning
The data analytic approach was guided by the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy & Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006)

Summary

Introduction

A wealth of literature testifies to the beneficial links between the positive features of romantic relationships and health and well-being (Holt-Lunstad, 2018; Stanton, Slatcher, & Reis, 2019; Uchino, 2009), with a growing number of studies investigating these benefits at both the individual and couple levels (Debrot, Cook, Perrez, & Horn, 2012; Stanton, Spence, Kähkönen, & Dobson, 2020; Stavrova, 2019). We argue that potentially important insight into these domains may be afforded by psychological flexibility, a malleable behavioral process known to predict individual well-being (Levin, Hildebrandt, Lillis, & Hayes, 2012). This research explored how psychological flexibility may be associated with romantic relationship quality via positive and negative affect (PA and NA, respectively). Greater psychological flexibility is associated with an enhanced ability to recognize and adapt to situational demands (Waugh, Thompson, & Gotlib, 2011), shift mindsets and behavior to accommodate social and personal functioning (Kashdan & Rottenberg, 2010), maintain and balance life demands (Gloster, Meyer, & Lieb, 2017), and identify and commit to behaviors congruent with deeply held beliefs (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2016), all of which are critical to healthy psychological functioning

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