Measuring Mindfulness in Youth: Review of Current Assessments, Challenges, and Future Directions
Matthew S. Goodman, Laila A. Madni, Randye J Semple
Mindfulness December 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-017-0719-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Assessment Measurement Children Adolescents |
| Key findings | Seven self-report measures exist for assessing trait mindfulness in youth, but methodological concerns limit conclusions about the effects of mindfulness-based interventions. |
Abstract
Interest in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for youth continues to grow across academic, clinical, educational, and community settings. Conclusions regarding the effects of mindfulness training with youth are tempered by methodological issues. One common limitation is the availability of reliable and valid ways to measure mindfulness. This review identifies existing youth mindfulness measures, discusses key challenges to measurement, and offers suggestions for improving assessment research. A search of electronic databases, consultation with colleagues, and data from professional meetings yielded seven self-report measures: (a) Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM); (b) Mindful Attention Awareness Scale for Adolescents (MAAS-A); (c) Mindful Attention Awareness Scale for Children (MAAS-C); (d) Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences-Adolescents (CHIME-A); (e) Mindful Thinking and Action Scale for Adolescents (MTASA); (f) Mindfulness Scale for Pre-Teens, Teens, and Adults (MSPTA); and (g) Mindfulness Inventory for Children and Adolescents (MICA). All seven assess trait mindfulness through self-report. We discuss methodological concerns regarding the near-exclusive use of self-report measures to assess youth mindfulness and offer suggestions for validating new measures and improving research studies that incorporate the assessment of mindfulness in youth.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
- Exploring the past, present, and future of the mindfulness field: A multitechnique bibliometric review Frontiers in Psychology July 26, 2022
- Beyond All Splits: Envisioning the Next Generation of Science on Mindfulness and Compassion in Schools for Students. Mindfulness November 11, 2022
- Effectiveness of mindful self-compassion therapy on psychopathology symptoms, psychological distress and life expectancy in infertile women treated with in vitro fertilization: a two-arm double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry March 1, 2024
- Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Children with Mental Health Problems: a 2-Year Follow-up Randomized Controlled Study Mindfulness October 16, 2021
- Mindfulness supports emotional resilience in children during the COVID-19 pandemic PLoS One July 12, 2023
and 17 more in the library
Cites 24
- 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
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
and 19 more in the library