Self-report measures of mindfulness for children: convergent validity, predictive validity, and impacts of social desirability bias.
Winnie Zhuang, Laura E Michaelson, Yuko Munakata, Sona Dimidjian
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology October 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2026.106598 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 109 |
| Population | Children ages 9–13 years |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Children's self-reported mindfulness showed good convergent and predictive validity, with higher self-reported mindfulness positively associated with higher parent-reported executive functioning. Self-reported mindfulness also covaried with social desirability bias, but controlling for this bias did not substantively affect either convergent or predictive validity. The authors suggest that bias may not affect conclusions when mindfulness is assessed as a latent factor across multiple measures. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions have shown promise in supporting psychological well-being in children. However, mindfulness is commonly measured using self-report questionnaires, a method that might be problematic due to its reliance on children's accurate self-perceptions of their own mindfulness and the potential influence of social desirability bias. In the current study, we examined the convergent validity, the predictive validity, and the influence of social desirability bias on three mindfulness self-report measures for children ages 9-13 years (N = 109). Results showed that children's self-reported mindfulness demonstrated good convergent validity and predictive validity, as higher levels of self-reported mindfulness were positively associated with higher levels of parent-reported executive functioning. Self-reported mindfulness also covaried with social desirability bias. However, controlling for this bias did not substantively affect the convergent validity nor the predictive validity of self-reported mindfulness. These findings suggest that children's self-reported mindfulness also captures social desirability bias, but this bias may not affect conclusions about mindfulness when assessed as a latent factor across multiple measures. Future work measuring children's mindfulness with self-reports should account for social desirability bias when possible, as well as explore objective methods of assessing mindfulness in children.
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 |