Abstract
Even as modern research on mindfulness has expanded, debate continues with regard to the measurement and conceptualization
of mindfulness. This divergence has manifested in a proliferation of different measurement approaches. The present research
contributes to the advancement of mindfulness measurement by performing a Rasch model analysis of the psychometric properties
of the short form of the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI-14). This rigorous psychometric method belongs to the family
item response theory and can be considered to be a set of approaches complementing classical test theory. The FMI-14 was administered
to a nonclinical convenience sample of N = 1,452 German adults. Our data showed poor fit to the Rasch model. A reanalysis of the model excluding one particular misfitting
item (number 13) yielded an acceptable fit for the originally proposed one-factorial solution to the Rasch model. However,
a two-factorial solution with the subfacets “presence” and “acceptance” provided a better overall fit than the unidimensional
solution. Some degree of differential item functioning could be observed both in the uni- and two-dimensional solution suggesting
that potential exists for improving the measurement quality of the FMI-13. In line with the recent research, it is concluded
that the FMI-13 should be considered as a two-dimensional rather than a unidimensional instrument.
of mindfulness. This divergence has manifested in a proliferation of different measurement approaches. The present research
contributes to the advancement of mindfulness measurement by performing a Rasch model analysis of the psychometric properties
of the short form of the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI-14). This rigorous psychometric method belongs to the family
item response theory and can be considered to be a set of approaches complementing classical test theory. The FMI-14 was administered
to a nonclinical convenience sample of N = 1,452 German adults. Our data showed poor fit to the Rasch model. A reanalysis of the model excluding one particular misfitting
item (number 13) yielded an acceptable fit for the originally proposed one-factorial solution to the Rasch model. However,
a two-factorial solution with the subfacets “presence” and “acceptance” provided a better overall fit than the unidimensional
solution. Some degree of differential item functioning could be observed both in the uni- and two-dimensional solution suggesting
that potential exists for improving the measurement quality of the FMI-13. In line with the recent research, it is concluded
that the FMI-13 should be considered as a two-dimensional rather than a unidimensional instrument.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category ORIGINAL PAPER
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s12671-012-0145-y
- Authors
- Sebastian Sauer, Generation Research Program, Human Science Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Prof.-Max-Lange-Platz 11, 83646 Bad Tölz, Germany
- Matthias Ziegler, Psychology Institute, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- Erik Danay, Psychology Institute, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- John Ives, Brain, Mind and Healing Program, Samueli Institute, Alexandria, VA, USA
- Niko Kohls, Generation Research Program, Human Science Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Prof.-Max-Lange-Platz 11, 83646 Bad Tölz, Germany
- Journal Mindfulness
- Online ISSN 1868-8535
- Print ISSN 1868-8527