Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples
Ruth A. Baer, Gregory T. Smith, Emily L. B. Lykins, Daniel Button, Jennifer Krietemeyer, Shannon Sauer, Erin C. Walsh, Danielle S. Duggan, J. Mark G. Williams
Assessment February 29, 2008 DOI: 10.1177/1073191107313003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 2,933 |
| Key findings | Most mindfulness facets were significantly related to meditation experience and to psychological symptoms and well-being, and several facets independently predicted well-being and mediated the relationship between meditation experience and well-being. |
Abstract
Previous research on assessment of mindfulness by self-report suggests that it may include five component skills: observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience, and nonreactivity to inner experience. These elements of mindfulness can be measured with the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). The authors investigated several aspects of the construct validity of the FFMQ in experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups. Consistent with predictions, most mindfulness facets were significantly related to meditation experience and to psychological symptoms and well-being. As expected, relationships between the observing facet and psychological adjustment varied with meditation experience. Regression and mediation analyses showed that several of the facets contributed independently to the prediction of well-being and significantly mediated the relationship between meditation experience and well-being. Findings support the construct validity of the FFMQ in a combination of samples not previously investigated.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
-
State of the evidence: Meditation Supports
Most mindfulness facets were related to meditation experience and to psychological symptoms and well-being, and several facets mediated the relationship between meditation experience and well-being.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational | |
| Impact of meditation training on the default mode network during a restful state 13 experienced meditators (over 1000 h of training) and 11 beginner meditators (no... | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 24 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 710
- Association of an Educational Program in Mindful Communication With Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes Among Primary Care Physicians JAMA September 22, 2009
- A Model of Mindful Parenting: Implications for Parent–Child Relationships and Prevention Research Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review May 2, 2009
- The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin May 14, 2012
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
and 705 more in the library
Cites 11
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
and 6 more in the library