Factor structure of an Arabic version of the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
Hassan Alomari, Mutasem Mohammad Akour
Frontiers in Education May 21, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2026.1796574 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,026 |
| Population | University students (two independent samples) |
| Measures | Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The correlated four-factor model of the Arabic FFMQ, excluding the Observing facet, provided the best fit, while the single-factor model fit poorly. Reliability was good for all facets. |
Abstract
Mindfulness refers to an individual's ability to pay attention to present experiences with openness and awareness. The Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) assesses five components: Observing, Describing, Acting with Awareness, Non-Judging, and Non-Reactivity. This study examined the factor structure an Arabic version of the 39-item FFMQ among two independent samples of university students ( n = 570 and n = 456). Five structural models were tested: single-factor, correlated four-factor, hierarchical four-factor, correlated five-factor, and hierarchical five-factor. The findings indicated a poor fit for the single-factor model, but a good fit for both the correlated four- and five-factor models. The correlated four-factor model—excluding the Observing facet—demonstrated the most parsimonious and robust fit. Values of Cronbach's alpha as an estimate of reliability were good reflecting the internal consistency among the items of each facet. This study recommended that researchers and practitioners can use the Arabic FFMQ for assessing mindfulness in Arabic-speaking populations with non-mediating experiences.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- 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
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
and 3 more in the library