Measuring mindfulness and examining its relationship with alcohol use and negative consequences.
Anne C. Fernandez, Mark D Wood, L A R Stein, Joseph S Rossi
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors December 1, 2010 DOI: 10.1037/a0021742 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 316 |
| Population | College-aged adults |
| Measures | Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Factor analysis, statistical Alcohol drinking Awareness Psychometrics Students Universities Adolescent Adult Female Surveys and questionnaires |
| Key findings | Confirmatory factor analysis supported the five-factor structure of the FFMQ. Two awareness-based mindfulness factors were negatively related to alcohol use. After controlling for alcohol use, nonjudging of thoughts and feelings was negatively related to alcohol-related consequences, while one awareness-based factor was positively related to consequences, with small-to-medium effect sizes. |
Abstract
Mindfulness has been proposed as a useful adjunct to alcohol abuse treatment. However, very little research has examined the basic relationship between alcohol use and mindfulness. Inconsistency in definition and measurement of mindfulness across studies makes such research difficult to interpret and conduct. Therefore, the current research sought to validate an emerging mindfulness measure, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and examine its relationship with alcohol use and alcohol-related negative consequences among a sample of 316 college-aged adults. The purported factor structure of the FFMQ was examined using confirmatory factor analysis. Structural equation modeling was used to examine relations among mindfulness, alcohol use, and alcohol-related negative consequences. Consistent with past research, results supported the five-factor structure of the FFMQ. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that two awareness-based factors of mindfulness were negatively related to alcohol use. After controlling for alcohol use, one acceptance-based factor (nonjudging of thoughts and feelings) was negatively related to alcohol-related consequences, and one awareness-based factor was positively related to consequences (all ps < .05). Effect sizes were small-medium. The results reported here inform the burgeoning development of mindfulness-based addiction treatment and provide additional psychometric validation of the FFMQ.
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
Cited by 16
- The “What” and the “How” of Dispositional Mindfulness Assessment May 14, 2012
- The Relationship between Mindfulness and Readiness to Change in Alcohol Drinkers International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health May 1, 2023
- The Role of Mindfulness in Treating Addictive Disorders and Rehabilitation International Journal of Psychology & Behavior Analysis November 21, 2018
- The differential effects of three mindfulness techniques on indicators of emotional well-being and life satisfaction UTAS Research Repository 2014
- Change in Mindfulness Profiles After Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder Mindfulness July 1, 2024
and 11 more in the library
Cites 16
- 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
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
and 11 more in the library