Hindrances to Mindfulness: Development and Validation of a Self-Report Measures for Young Adults
Journal of Asian Development Studies September 1, 2025 Sonia Naeem, Mahwesh Arooj Naz
A new Urdu-language scale, the Hindrances to Mindfulness Scale (HMS), was developed to measure barriers to meditation practice. Based on literature, Buddhist frameworks, and a focus group of 30 young adults, an initial 41 items were refined by experts and tested in a pilot study. Exploratory factor analysis with 350 participants (180 males, 170 females) revealed three hindrance types: cognitive, emotional, and motivational, accounting for 45% of variance. Confirmatory factor analysis with 500 participants (250 males, 250 females) produced a 26-item model with strong fit indices. The scale showed good convergent validity with an existing fears and resistance measure. The HMS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing obstacles to mindfulness.