Mindful Self-Care Practices Around the World—Score Reporting and Rasch Modeling of Mindful Self-Care Factors Among 13 Regions and Across 102 Countries

Abstract

Objectives

While mindfulness is influencing self-care theory and practice globally, intercultural studies on mindful self-care practices remain scant. The purpose of this study was to assess the intercultural measurement properties of each mindful self-care practice and discover the variation of mindfulness-related, self-care practices across regions of the globe.

Method

Cross-sectional self-report and retrospective data were drawn from 16 studies spread across 102 nations (n = 7884). Rasch modeling of the Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS) factors using R Studio was conducted to ascertain its measurement properties across thirteen global regions. The analysis employed the partial credit model (PCM) to investigate the different category thresholds for each item and accommodate the six-factor nature and multiple response options of the MSCS items.

Results

Rasch modeling confirmed the reliability and validity of the MSCS’ six factors across 13 distinct global regions. South America, East Asia, and Southeast Asia scored highest in mindful awareness, mindful relaxation, and self-compassion and purpose. North America placed fourth in mindful awareness, and self-compassion and purpose. Traditional self-care practices captured in supportive relationships and supportive structure were more common than mindfulness-related factors. Physical care and mind–body practice had the least practice prevalence.

Conclusions

The six-factor MSCS model captures human needs found in all nations, regions, and cultures of the world. The factors were both reliable and valid among culturally, ethnically, and occupationally varied samples. Overall, mindful self-care practice was most frequent in the Americas, and East and Southeast Asia. Mind–body practice was more common in the regions of South America, and East and South Asia. While there were expected variations in factor scores across regions providing discriminating validity, the Rasch results evinced intercultural and interethnic measurement stability. These findings affirmed that the MSCS concept and structure transcends cultures. Future research should investigate types of mind–body practice across cultures.