Do Mindful Partners Make a Difference? A Meta-Analytic Test of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model in Dyadic Couples

Objectives: Mindfulness is consistently linked with individual well-being and relationship functioning, yet it remains unclear systemically whether mindfulness reliably “crosses over” within romantic couples — such that one partner’s mindfulness is associated with the other partner’s outcomes once dyadic interdependence is accounted for. We conducted a model-testing meta-analysis (MTMA) based on the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to estimate actor (self-self) and partner (self-partner) effects of mindfulness on couples’ relationship outcomes. Methods: We searched six databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Trials) for quantitative dyadic studies linking one partner’s mindfulness to the other partner’s outcomes across relational domains. Thirty-six independent studies (11,652 couples) met the inclusion criteria. We conducted a multivariate meta-analysis to estimate the six model-implied (APIM) correlations (r*), then computed path coefficients from these estimates. All effect sizes include 95% CIs from 1,000 bootstrap samples. Results: Cross-partner correlations were small but significant (rs* = .14 and .15 for male-to-female and female-to-male associations, respectively). However, corresponding APIM partner effects were close to zero and nonsignificant (βs = –.02 and –.01), indicating no reliable crossover. Actor effects were significant (βs =.21 and .21 for men and women, respectively). Interdependence effects were also significant for partners’ mindfulness (r* = .27) and outcomes (r* = .41), indicating meaningful within-couple covariation. Discussion: Overall, findings do not support a reliable direct partner effect, cautioning against assumptions that mindfulness gains in one partner reliably translate into parallel partner benefits. Implications include prioritizing dyadic processes and couple-level interventions. Limitations and future directions are discussed.