Yoga, Mindfulness and Interpersonal Relationship

Lauren Evron

doi:10.23860/thesis-evron-lauren-2019

Abstract

Previous studies have found that the practice of yoga is related to physical and mental health benefits in the yoga practitioner. Research has not yet studied how yoga practice may influence the practitioners’ interpersonal relationships after the change in mental and health benefits occurs within the self. This study examined how the practice of yoga in real life was positively related to relationship satisfaction and relationship commitment through the mediating variables of stress, mindfulness, authentic self (cognitive variables) and authenticity in relationships (behavioral variable). Two hundred participants were surveyed and one hundred and twenty-two of the participants had never practiced yoga, while seventy-six participants indicated that they had practiced yoga. The goal of this study was to see if those who practiced yoga before had higher levels of relationship satisfaction and relationship commitment then those who had not practiced yoga. Results indicated that those who practiced yoga differed from those who did not, by having higher levels of relationship satisfaction, p=. 000. An unexpected finding of the study was that the practice of yoga in real life was significantly related to the meditating variables of stress, p = .000, mindfulness p = .089, and authentic self p=.001, rather than attending yoga class itself. Going to yoga class was significantly related to the practice of yoga in real life, p=.000. So, yoga in real life was used as the independent variable instead of attending yoga class. These results indicate that the practice of yoga in real life leads the individual to become less stressed, more mindful, and more in-tune with their authentic self, and these changes in the individual were all significantly related to relationship satisfaction but not relationship commitment. The behavioral variable of authenticity in relationships mediated the relationship between yoga in real life and relationship commitment and satisfaction p=.000, but it was negatively related to relationship commitment and satisfaction. These findings suggest that being authentic in your relationship is negatively related to the individuals satisfaction and commitment levels, partners satisfaction and commitment levels were not examined in this study and it may provide a clearer reasoning for this result. This study suggests that going to yoga class leads the practitioner to practice aspects of yoga in real life and those who practice yoga in real life are more satisfied in their romantic relationships.

Highlights

As a communication scholar I have always been interested in interpersonal relationships and how some couples reach higher levels of relationship satisfaction and relationship commitment than other couples
In order to dig a little I used the Baron and Kenney’s (1986) method to see if full or partial mediation had occurred between those who practiced yoga and those who did not practice to determine a difference in relationship commitment between groups, through the possible mediating variables of stress, mindfulness, authentic self, and authenticity in relationships
That we have examined the three cognitive variables of the model, stress, mindfulness, and authentic self, I will examine the behavioral variable of authenticity in relationships to see if it mediates the relationship between yoga in real life and relationship satisfaction

Summary

Introduction

As a communication scholar I have always been interested in interpersonal relationships and how some couples reach higher levels of relationship satisfaction and relationship commitment than other couples. Yoga can be defined as a system, not of beliefs, but of techniques and guidance for enriched living (Yoga Alliance, 2018). Millions of people practice yoga to enrich their quality of life in some way, some of these reasons include; fitness, stress relief, wellness, vitality, mental clarity, healing, peace of mind and spiritual growth (Yoga Alliance, 2018). Relationship satisfaction is as an interpersonal evaluation of the positivity of feelings for one’s partner and attraction to the relationship (Rusbult & Buunk, 1993). Commitment is the “intent to persist in a relationship, including long-term orientation toward the involvement as well as feelings of psychological attachment” Commitment is a psychological construct that directly influences everyday behavior in relationships, including decisions to persist and depending on your partner, extending beyond self-interest (Rusbult et al, 1998)

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