The Development of Couples’ Mental Well-Being through Mindfulness, Wisdom, and Loving-Kindness (MWL) Practice in Thailand
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Abstract
This study examined the development of couples’ mental well-being and relationship dynamics following a culturally adapted Mindfulness, Wisdom, and Loving-Kindness (MWL) course at the Buddhamahametta Foundation, Ayutthaya, Thailand. Objectives were to (1) assess baseline mental-health and relational challenges, (2) track changes in individual and dyadic outcomes across MWL participation, and (3) evaluate the course’s overall impact. Employing a mixed-methods pre–post design, nine couples (N = 18) were grouped by level of shared mindfulness engagement and attended two MWL cycles one month apart. Quantitative data were collected at three time points using the TMHI-15 and RDAS and analyzed with mixed ANOVA; qualitative data from in-depth interviews were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings integrate statistical trends with participants’ experiential accounts to assess MWL’s effectiveness.
Key findings:
- Baseline: Couples who practiced mindfulness together reported higher mental-health and relationship scores (not statistically significant), while qualitative data showed greater mindfulness awareness and emotional balance; non-practicing couples described disconnection and unresolved conflict.
- Development: Mental health improved across sessions (significant over time, p = 0.009). Relationship quality was generally stable but consistently higher for co-practicing couples; group differences favored co-practicing couples at post-course 1 (p = 0.003) and post-course 2 (p = 0.044). Qualitative themes included improved communication, self-awareness, and emotional regulation, especially when partners engaged jointly.
- Intervention impact: The MWL package (mindfulness exercises, loving-kindness, Dhamma talks, reflective practices, Dharma music) was associated with enhanced individual well-being and stronger dyadic functioning.
Implication: Culturally adapted MWL programming shows promise for promoting family mental health and merits broader testing in therapeutic and community settings.
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