Effects and Mechanisms of a Savoring-Based Single Session Intervention for Partnered Individuals

Barriers to care can contribute to a substantial treatment gap in the receipt of mental health services. This gap calls for the development of brief cost effective interventions for individuals suffering from relatively common complaints such as relationship distress. Savoring, which invites individuals to prolong the positive aspect of their experiences, is a promising candidate for development as a single sessionintervention (SSI) targeting romantic relationships. Savoring-based interventions have demonstrated efficacy at producing positive intra- and interpersonal outcomes (e.g., enhanced mood, optimism, and relationship closeness). This investigation examined the effectiveness of savoring-based SSI on a young adult population ( n = 150) in committed romantic relationships. Participants were randomized into savoring and control conditions. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention. The savoring-based SSI was better than the mindfulness control at improving some intra- and interpersonal outcomes including positive affect, and relationship distress. The results also supported a double mediation model with positive affect and optimism mediating the association between savoring and relationship distress. Savoring SSI is an efficacious intervention for reducing relationship distress and improving positive affect in partnered individuals. The intervention’s mechanism of change for inter-personal outcomes is likely its improvement of intrapersonal outcomes.