Psychometric properties of the five facets mindfulness questionnaire in moderate-to-severe, persistent depression
Sweeney, Timothy Morriss, Richard K. Nixon, Elena Guo, Boliang Callaghan, Patrick
Sweeney, Timothy
Morriss, Richard K.
Nixon, Elena
Guo, Boliang
Callaghan, Patrick
Abstract
ObjectivesMindfulness has been increasingly incorporated into modern psychotherapies and healthcare services. The importance of psychometrically quantifying the construct of mindfulness has become paramount. One of the most reliable and valid instruments for the assessment of different aspects of dispositional mindfulness is the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). However, the psychometric properties of the FFMQ are yet to be tested in individuals with high levels of persistent depression. This study therefore investigated the psychometric properties of the FFMQ in a clinical sample with moderate-to-severe, persistent depression.MethodsThe data of 187 participants recruited from a funded randomised controlled trial were utilised. Internal consistency was assessed and construct validity was examined with confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and by statistically correlating the FFMQ to measures of depression, self-compassion, rumination and experiential avoidance.ResultsFindings supported the internal consistency of the FFMQ. CFA fit indices indicated that all correlated and hierarchical models fitted the data acceptably, with results slightly favouring the correlated model. Contrary to predictions however, individual facet loadings showed that the facet Observe loaded strongly onto an overarching factor of mindfulness, whilst Nonjudge loaded marginally. Nonjudge further showed a non-significant correlation with depression. However, exploratory post hoc analysis presented findings inconsistent with CFA.ConclusionsIn a sample of severely depressed individuals, psychometric investigation of the validity of the FFMQ highlighted contradictory findings relating to “Nonjudge”. Whilst such findings potentially challenge the validity of the FFMQ for use in its current structure in this sample, further investigation with a larger population is warranted.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01047124) and the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN10963342) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)
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Date
2021
Type
Article
Subject
Mindfulness, Surveys and questionnaires, Depression
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Citation
Sweeney, T., Morriss, R. K., Nixon, E., Guo, B. & Callaghan, P. (2021). Psychometric properties of the five facets mindfulness questionnaire in moderate-to-severe, persistent depression. Mindfulness, 12, pp. 1009-1021.