Mindfulness predicts growth belief and positive outcomes in social relationships

Abstract

ABSTRACTPrior research demonstrates that growth belief, or the implicit view that relationships are successful as a function of effort and cultivation, is associated with a variety of positive relational outcomes. Mindfulness, similarly, predicts a host of positive relationships outcomes, yet the mechanisms by which mindfulness has this positive influence are currently unclear. This study bridges research on implicit theories of relationships and mindfulness by arguing that individuals with greater mindfulness are also more likely to endorse growth belief, which then has a positive influence on relationships. Across two independent studies (N = 96 in Study 1 and 139 in Study 2), results demonstrate that people with greater mindfulness are also more likely to endorse growth belief, and that this mediates the association between mindfulness and positive relationship outcomes. Results suggest that people with greater mindfulness tend to think about and approach their relationships in a more growth-minded way, which has positive implications for feelings of satisfaction and connectedness.