Alexander Khaddouma

Zen and the art of sex: examining associations among mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction in dating relationships

The purpose of the present study was to examine the links among the five facets of trait mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction in dating relationships. Three hundred and twenty-two individuals in a current dating relationship completed measures of trait mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Results of path analyses indicated that sexual satisfaction fully mediated the associations between the Observing (PE = .08, CI = [.02, .15]) and Nonjudging of Inner Experience (PE = .11, CI = [.03, .19]) facets of mindfulness and relationship satisfaction. In contrast, the three remaining facets of mindfulness (Describing, Acting with Awareness, and Nonreactivity to Inner Experience) were not related to sexual satisfaction or relationship satisfaction. These results suggest that attending to and noticing (but refraining from evaluating) internal and external stimuli may contribute to greater relationship satisfaction specifically by increasing sexual satisfaction with ones partner. Furthermore, findings from the current study provide empirical support for the link between mindfulness and sexual satisfaction in dating relationships and suggest that they may jointly contribute to relationship satisfaction, thus indicating an important area for future research and suggesting a potential target for relationship education and intervention efforts.

Relationships Among Dispositional Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, and Women’s Dating Violence Perpetration: A Path Analysis

Scant research examined mechanisms underlying the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and dating violence (DV) perpetration. Using a cross-sectional design with 203 college women, we examined whether distress tolerance mediated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and DV perpetration (i.e., psychological aggression and physical assault). Path analyses results revealed indirect effects of mindfulness facets nonjudging of inner experiences and nonreactivity to inner experiences on both psychological aggression and physical assault through distress tolerance. Mindfulness facets observing, describing, and acting with awareness were not linked to DV perpetration through distress tolerance. Results suggest that women who allow internal experiences to come and go without assigning criticism or avoidance are better able to tolerate transient distress and less likely to abuse a dating partner. Future research may examine distress tolerance and dispositional mindfulness facets as potential intervention targets for women who abuse dating partners.

Drinking and Dating: Examining the Link Among Relationship Satisfaction, Hazardous Drinking, and Readiness-to-Change in College Dating Relationships

For this study we examined the association between relationship satisfaction and readiness-to-change alcohol use, as well as the associations between hazardous drinking and readiness-to-change relationship issues in college dating relationships. A sample of 219 college students in a current dating relationship (aged 18–25) completed self-report measures of dating relationship satisfaction, alcohol use, readiness-to-change alcohol use, and readiness-to-change relationship issues via an online survey from August to December 2011. Participants were grouped on the basis of their scores on measures of alcohol use (hazardous drinkers vs. nonhazardous drinkers) and relationship satisfaction (high vs. low). Results indicated that alcohol use was negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, hazardous drinkers with high relationship satisfaction indicated more readiness-to-change alcohol use than hazardous drinkers with low relationship satisfaction. Alcohol problems were not related to readiness-to-change relationship issues. These findings indicate that highly satisfied dating relationships during college may positively influence readiness-to-change heavy drinking habits among college students.

Mindful M&M’s Mindfulness and Parent Training for a Preschool Child With Disruptive Behavior Disorder

Disruptive behavior problems are the primary reason for referral of preschool-aged children to mental health care settings and significantly interfere with social and academic functioning. Furthermore, when left untreated, disruptive behavior disorder may persist and cause impairments in social, academic, and occupational functioning in later developmental stages. Parent-based training programs are effective in ameliorating many symptoms of disruptive behavior disorders, but often neglect other child factors associated with disruptive behavior, such as deficits in emotion regulation. Mindfulness training may be an effective method for addressing these individual-level contributing factors underlying the child’s disruptive behavior. At present, treatment outcome research on the efficacy of mindfulness training among preschool-aged children with disruptive behavior problems is highly limited. This case study examined the implementation of a two-part treatment consisting of a four-session parent-training program as well as four sessions of targeted mindfulness training for a preschool-aged child with disruptive behavior disorder. Treatment outcome data revealed significant gains, including improvements in emotion regulation and decreases in level of aggression, defiance, and sleep problems. Treatment gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up, along with further decreases in aggression, defiance, inattention, and hyperactivity, which resulted in no clinical-level symptoms at 6-months post-treatment. This case study demonstrates the potential efficacy of multi-strategy interventions for preschool-aged children with disruptive behavior problems and highlights mindfulness training as a promising adjunct to family-based interventions.