EVALUATING THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE FIVE-FACET MINDFULNESS QUESTIONNAIRE: AN ITEM RESPONSE THEORY ANALYSIS

Abstract

Mindfulness has been extensively studied and a plethora of research delineates the relationship between mindfulness well-being. The Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) measures the dominant facets of mindfulness. The FFMQ has been shown to have solid classical test properties, but often the factor structure does not hold up under factor analysis thus an item analysis was conducted. Data were analyzed from 644 individuals. Reliability of each facet of the FFMQ (observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experiences, and non-reactivity to inner experiences) were found to have mediocre to good classical test properties. Under Samejima's graded response model, the pattern of results revealed poor discrimination and little information provided at all levels of the trait for each item of the observing and non-reactivity to inner experiences scales. However, the remaining scales appeared to discriminate well and provided adequate information at a range the trait. Limitations and future directions are discussed.