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Measuring Mindfulness in Insight Meditation (Vipassana) and Meditation-Based Psychotherapy: The Development of the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI)

Authors:
  • Universitätsspital Basel (University Hospital Basel)
  • Kazimieras Simonavicius University
... This has allowed for a better understanding of the psychological processes involved and to determine its relationship with other psychological constructs (Baer et al., 2006). In this regard, some of the instruments currently available and commonly used are (Baer et al., 2022): the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) (Brown and Ryan, 2003), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) (Baer et al., 2006), the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) (Baer et al., 2004), the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) (Buchheld et al., 2001), and the Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R) (Hayes and Feldman, 2004). Despite their differences, all these questionnaires assess central facets of mindfulness practice, such as acting with awareness (e.g., fully engaging with the present), observing (e.g., noticing internal and external experiences), describing (e.g., being able to express experiences with words), non-judging (e.g., observing experiences without judging them), and non-reactivity (e.g., observing experiences without reacting to them) (Baer et al., 2022). ...
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Introduction In recent decades, researchers have assessed the relationship between mindfulness and personality traits, including neuroticism, a known target in mental health associated with the development of mental health disorders and physical illnesses. The main aim of mindfulness practice is to help individuals develop the ability to regulate and accept their experiences, emotions, and thoughts. Therefore, it could be suggested that mindfulness may be useful in reducing the expression and negative experience of neuroticism. The aim of our review was to assess the relationship between neuroticism and mindfulness. Methods We conducted a scoping review of the literature in December 2023, using the databases PubMed and PsycINFO. Results Forty-nine studies were included in the review, with four common themes identified: (i) mental health, (ii) cognitive outcomes, (iii) physiological symptoms, and (iv) mindfulness-based interventions. Across most of the studies, mindfulness negatively correlated with neuroticism, supporting the idea that mindfulness may be useful in reducing neuroticism and its negative effects on mental and physical health. Discussion While several limitations were identified, the overall results are promising. Future research in this area should focus on overcoming the current limitations to provide a better understanding of the relationship between mindfulness and neuroticism.
... The reason that the FFMQ has also frequently been used as a dispositional mindfulness measure-and thus outside practice contexts-lies in the comparatively jargon-free item wording. This is in contrast to the earliest measure of mindfulness, the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) (Buchheld et al., 2001), which has been developed to assess mindfulness levels in meditating samples. As a result, respondents who are not familiar with meditation or mindfulness have been found to misunderstand some of the items and even report them to be esoteric (Belzer et al., 2013). ...
... Research has shown good construct and criterion validity and acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.73 for employee version) [37]. Mindfulness is assessed using the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory [38,39] German revised version 13-r [40]. The scale consists of 13 items that can be rated on a scale ranging from 1 = rarely to 4 = almost always with higher scores indicating more mindfulness. ...
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Background Healthcare professionals in hospitals are exposed to a high level of professional stress, time pressure, workload, and often times poor organizational support. This makes them especially susceptible to burnout. In this pragmatic randomized controlled trial, we test the hypothesis that participation in a 9-week program (LAGOM) that was designed in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, incorporating both individual and organizational aspects reduces emotional exhaustion in healthcare professionals (primary outcome). Methods Eighty four nurses and physicians working at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Immanuel Hospital Berlin are automatically randomized to the LAGOM program (n = 42) or to usual care (n = 42) in a one-to-one allocation rate. The primary outcome emotional exhaustion is measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up via an online survey. Secondary outcomes include depersonalization, personal accomplishment, subjective stress, mental well-being, self-care, self-efficacy, working conditions, mindfulness, and adverse events. Electrophysiological measures for heart rate variation analysis are captured. The PRECIS-2 tool is used to characterize the degree of pragmatism in our trial. Data analysis and primary intention-to-treat analysis using repeated measures analysis of variance are performed blind to intervention allocation. Per-protocol, subgroup, and secondary outcome analyses are conducted exploratively. An advisory board consisting of various stakeholders accompanies the study process. Discussion If LAGOM proves to be effective in reducing symptoms of burnout, the program could make an important contribution to tackling the problem of the very high burnout rates among healthcare professionals and become an integral part of preventive services offered by hospitals. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00034060. Registered 31 May 2024.
... Various tools can be used to assess the qualities of mindfulness [34]. The questionnaire used in this project is the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) developed in 2001 [35], which provides a self-assessment of a subject's aptitude for 'mindfulness' in daily life. Its brief 14-item version [36] has been validated in French [37]. ...
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Background In oncology, the suffering of patients and the burnout of health professionals are key issues. Mindfulness meditation is a holistic approach that can help to improve well-being. While numerous studies have shown the benefits of meditation for both patients and health professionals, the added value of offering shared meditation to groups of patients, health professionals and third persons has not been assessed. Beyond strengthening the relationship between carers and patients, opening up meditation sessions to third parties (neither carers nor patients) enables patients to escape the stigma of their illness. We previously conducted a pilot study that validated the feasibility and the relevance of shared meditation with a specifically designed programme. Methods/Design IMPLIC-2 is a two-arm randomised study designed to assess the added value of this meditation programme (optimised following the pilot study), particularly for cancer patients (our target population). People motivated to follow the programme, without previous regular practice of meditation and able to participate in the sessions are eligible. The study will include 96 participants: 16 health professionals, 16 third persons and 64 patients. The latter will be randomized in two arms: the experimental arm (“Shared” meditation) consisting of 4 mixed groups of 8 patients, 4 health professionals and 4 third parties, and the control arm (“Patient” meditation) consisting of 2 groups of 16 patients. Validated questionnaires will be used to measure the effects of the programme, notably in terms of quality of life, perceived stress, feelings of self-efficacy, qualities of mindfulness and self-compassion, and carers’ burn-out. Participants' perception of a change in their quality of life and satisfaction will be measured at the end of the programme. A complementary qualitative focus-group approach will be used to optimise implementation of the programme beyond the study. Discussion The well-being of oncology patients would be improved. Dealing with overworked carers would have a beneficial impact on the way they interact with patients. In addition, encounters between the three types of population will allow otherness to be viewed differently and alleviate suffering by promoting collective humanity. Trial Registration NCT06041607, registered: 09/18/2023. Protocol version Version n°1.2 dated from 08/29/2023.
... It is sensitive to change and can also be used with subjects without previous meditation experience (Walach et al., 2006). The initial form of the FMI had 30 items (Buchheld, Grossman, & Walach, 2001), but a later study refined it and made a short version comprising 14 items, such as, "I am open to the experience of the present moment," evaluated with a 4-point scale (Rarely, Occasionally, Fairly often, or Almost always) (Walach et al., 2006). The FMI has been used to measure the effects of mindfulness-based therapies or programs (Foley, Baillie, Huxter, Price, & Sinclair, 2010;Keune, Bostanov, Hautzinger, & Kotchoubey, 2011;Neff & Germer, 2013), but as far as we know, our present study was the first to use it to assess the effects of listening to natural sounds. ...
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Novel distinction drawing is an active process that characterizes mindfulness, which has been associated with an open, creative, and probabilistic mental state, as well as the ability to examine information from new perspectives. The literature review revealed a lack of measurement tools for assessing mindfulness from a social and cognitive perspective in Türkiye. In addition, the frequent use of the Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS) in educational contexts and its adaptation into many languages highlights the need for a Turkish version of the scale. This study aims to validate the Turkish version of the 14-item LMS. The Turkish version's factorial structure was tested using the results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which confirmed a three-factor structure that included the engagement, novelty-producing, and novelty-seeking subscales. It was found that measurement invariance based on gender was provided by LMS scores. LMS Turkish version showed satisfying psychometric properties in terms of reliability. Additionally, convergent and discriminant validity were examined in this validation study to provide evidence for criterion-based validity. For this purpose, the relationships between Turkish LMS scores and variables such as positive and negative affect, openness to experiences, self-acceptance, self-defined humor, and health were analyzed. The results showed that self-defined humor, positive affect, openness to experience, and self-acceptance were significantly positively correlated with the Turkish LMS scores, while LMS scores exhibited a significant negative relationship with negative affect. These findings suggest that the Turkish version of the LMS, with its three dimensions, shows acceptable psychometric properties for assessing the state of mindfulness. The Turkish version of the LMS is expected to be used in socio-cognitive mindfulness research in the Turkish cultural context.
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Full-text available
Novel distinction drawing is an active process that characterizes mindfulness, which has been associated with an open, creative, and probabilistic mental state, as well as the ability to examine information from new perspectives. The literature review revealed a lack of measurement tools for assessing mindfulness from a social and cognitive perspective in Türkiye. In addition, the frequent use of the Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS) in educational contexts and its adaptation into many languages highlights the need for a Turkish version of the scale. This study aims to validate the Turkish version of the 14-item LMS. The Turkish version’s factorial structure was tested using the results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which confirmed a three-factor structure that included the engagement, novelty-producing, and novelty-seeking subscales. It was found that measurement invariance based on gender was provided by LMS scores. LMS Turkish version showed satisfying psychometric properties in terms of reliability. Additionally, convergent and discriminant validity were examined in this validation study to provide evidence for criterion-based validity. For this purpose, the relationships between Turkish LMS scores and variables such as positive and negative affect, openness to experiences, self-acceptance, self-defined humor, and health were analyzed. The results showed that self-defined humor, positive affect, openness to experience, and self-acceptance were significantly positively correlated with the Turkish LMS scores, while LMS scores exhibited a significant negative relationship with negative affect. These findings suggest that the Turkish version of the LMS, with its three dimensions, shows acceptable psychometric properties for assessing the state of mindfulness. The Turkish version of the LMS is expected to be used in socio-cognitive mindfulness research in the Turkish cultural context.
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Introduction by the Editor: Workplace emotional health plays a vital role in managing stress and maintaining strong interpersonal relationship in the workplace. Workplace emotional health is regulated by mainly four factors namely work load, emotional intelligence, emotional blackmail and emotional labour. A study undergone by Chin yen et al., in 2023 states that workplace emotional health can be measured by four factors emotional expression strategies, emotional awareness, interpersonal adaptation and work load. Stress is crucial to academic and industrial jobs, which should be regulated in a productive way. The results of this study revealed that workplace emotional health can be regulated by three factors emotional control, interpersonal relationship management and self-motivation. The same way a manager’s emotional quotient also affects the subordinate’s productivity. Zhang et al., adopted a multilevel framework investigation in 2020 to find out the link between group leader’s emotional intelligence with group performance, came out with a reliable result of two factors group cohesion and person-group fit. A good match between job match and group member’s characteristics may help in addressing these issues in advance.
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