Deconstructing the Self: Type of Meditation and Frequency of Practice Thresholds Associated with a Deconstructed Self
Jaime Navarrete, Adrián Pérez-aranda, Daniel Campos, Javier García-campayo
April 20, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/u6kna_v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional psychometric study Preregistered |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 242 |
| Population | Adults from the Spanish general population |
| Topics | Addiction Meditation |
| Keywords | Measurement invariance Confirmatory factor analysis Convergent validity Scale ratio Sample material Psychometrics Clinical psychology Discriminant validity Large sample Quiet |
| Key findings | Spanish adaptations of the QES, NADA, and OAS-24 demonstrated adequate psychometric properties, and 376 lifetime meditation hours optimally discriminated low- from high-ego profiles. |
Abstract
Objectives: The psychometric properties of the Spanish versions of the Quiet Ego Scale (QES), the Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment (NADA), and the Ontological Addiction Scale (OAS‑24) were examined.
Methods: The analyzed sample was composed of 242 adults from the Spanish general population. Factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent validity were tested, along with invariance across genders and meditation experience. A composite self-function index was developed to compare participants with high- and low-ego functioning.Results: Confirmatory models supported a bifactor structure for the QES (CFI=.93, TLI=.90, RMSEA=.104) and the NADA (CFI=.97, TLI=.96, RMSEA=.12) and a one‑factor structure for the OAS‑24 (CFI=.92, TLI=.91, RMSEA=.08), with good internal consistency. Further, QES, NADA, and OAS‑24 scores were invariant across gender and meditation experience, enabling valid comparisons: women scored higher on the QES (p=.020), with no gender differences in the NADA or the OAS‑24. Meditators reported higher QES and NADA (p<.001) and lower OAS‑24 (p=.002) scores than non‑meditators. Finally, low‑ego individuals were more likely to meditate (87.5% vs. 42.9%), had greater lifetime practice (median ≈ 852 vs. 127 hours), and devoted more time to values‑based and deconstructive techniques. An optimal threshold of 376 lifetime hours to discriminate low‑ vs. high‑ego profiles was identified (AUC=.81; sensitivity=.65; specificity=.88).
Conclusions: Findings provide positive evidence about the psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptations of the QES, the NADA, and the OAS-24. Further, the amount and type of meditation needed to achieve a “deconstructed self” is identified. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered.