The Relationship between Mindfulness and Conflict Management in Romantic Relationships among Young Adults

Authors

Abinaya R Department of Psychology, Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Dr. Sharon John Department of Psychology, Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

young adults, mindfulness, conflict managment, romantic relationships

Background: Romantic relationships are an important aspect of psychosocial

development during young adulthood. The quality of these relationships is influenced by how

individuals perceive, regulate and respond to interpersonal conflicts. Mindfulness has gained

increasing attention in psychological research because of its potential role in promoting

emotional regulation, adaptive coping and healthier interpersonal functioning. However,

evidence regarding the relationship between mindfulness and conflict management among

young adults, particularly in the Indian context, remains limited. Objective: This study aimed

to examine the relationship between mindfulness and conflict management in romantic

relationships among young adults. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational

research design was employed. A total of 200 young adults aged 18–30 years from urban

regions of South India participated in the study through convenience sampling. Mindfulness

was assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire–15 (FFMQ-15), while conflict

management was measured using the Romantic Partner Conflict Scale (RPCS). Descriptive

statistics, normality testing and Spearman's rank correlation were performed using IBM SPSS

Statistics. Results: The findings indicated no statistically significant relationship between

mindfulness and conflict management among young adults. Although participants

demonstrated varying levels of mindfulness and different approaches to conflict resolution,

mindfulness was not found to be significantly associated with conflict management strategies

in romantic relationships. Conclusion: The findings suggest that conflict management within

romantic relationships is likely influenced by multiple psychological, interpersonal and

contextual factors beyond mindfulness alone. Future studies employing longitudinal designs,

culturally diverse samples and additional psychological variables may provide a more

comprehensive understanding of relationship functioning among young adults.