Development and Initial Validation of the State Four Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire.

Abstract

The current research aimed to provide initial psychometric validation of a new multifaceted mindfulness questionnaire (referred to as the State Four Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, or the "state-4FMQ" for short) adapted from the commonly used Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (referred to as the "trait-FFMQ"). The research was divided into two pre-registered studies. In both, undergraduates partook in a 20-minute mindfulness meditation (via audio recording), and then answered questions, including the state-4FMQ, pertaining to their experience during the meditation. In Study 2, participants additionally partook in a 20-minute control condition. The state-4FMQ was developed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA; Study 1) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; Study 2). In Study 2, a short-form of the state-4FMQ was established, and several additional forms of measurement validity were tested. EFA and CFA results supported a four-factor structure, which was identical to the trait-FFMQ with the exclusion of Nonreactivity. This newly created state-4FMQ, and its short-form, showed good internal consistency as well as convergent, predictive, and construct validity. In addition, it was found that some facets, more than others, predicted momentary well-being. The validity of the state-4FMQ shows that it can be used to measure multiple facets of state mindfulness across a variety of situations.