Work‐Related Migration and Couples in Long‐Distance Marriages: Mindfulness, Marital Quality, Satisfaction, and Happiness

ABSTRACT This article reports a study on the impact of online mindfulness sessions in improving marital quality, satisfaction, and happiness of couples from South Asian and African home countries in long‐distance marriages due to work‐related migration of partners either within domicile countries or overseas (pre‐test n = 96, post‐test n = 85) compared to a control group (pre‐test n = 83, post‐test n = 76). Mindfulness sessions were effective, and post‐test scores on marital quality, satisfaction, and happiness outcomes were higher for dyads who had postgraduate or professional degrees, salaried jobs, Hindus and Christians, who had children and whose intervention compliance was high (≥ 64% sessions attended and homework posts completed). Intervention adherence had fairly strong predictor effects. Actor‐partner interdependence analyses confirmed associated and interdependent effects on outcomes. The online mindfulness sessions were effective for commuter couples with some modifications needed for male partners, dyads with lower formal education, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, and Muslim dyads, and childless couples.