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A Preliminary Investigation of the Process of Mindfulness

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Abstract

Given the recent proliferation of mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies, there is a growing need for clarification of the construct of mindfulness and how to evaluate its progression during these treatments. Although mindfulness has been conceptualized as a process, it has been primarily operationalized as an outcome; therefore, important aspects of this construct may be overlooked in current research. This two-part study presents a theoretical examination of mindfulness as a process, along with the preliminary development of a new, process-oriented mindfulness questionnaire (Mindfulness Process Questionnaire [MPQ]) to measure and further investigate this conceptualization of mindfulness. In Study 1, 410 participants from an urban university campus completed measures of mindfulness, emotional responding, and well-being. We examined the relationship between the MPQ and both the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, as well as the incremental ability of the new measure to predict outcomes of interest, including psychological symptoms, emotional processing, and well-being. Findings from Study 1 indicate that the MPQ captures a unique aspect of mindfulness, beyond what is already measured by existing mindfulness questionnaires. In Study 2, 18 participants were randomly assigned to an Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy condition for generalized anxiety disorder. We examined the ability of the changes in MPQ scores from pre- to posttreatment to predict changes in similar outcomes of interest, including psychological symptoms, emotional processing, and well-being. Consistent with findings from Study 1, results suggest a significant relationship between the MPQ and these outcome measures, indicating a need for further study.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH074589 to the second author.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts–Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02125, USA

    Shannon M. Erisman & Lizabeth Roemer

Authors
  1. Shannon M. Erisman
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  2. Lizabeth Roemer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shannon M. Erisman.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Mindfulness Process Questionnaire

You will find below a series of statements that describe how people may react to the uncertainties of life. Please use the scale below to describe to what extent each item is characteristic of you (please write the number that describes you best in the space before each item).

1

2

3

4

5

not at all

a little

somewhat

very

entirely

characteristic

characteristic

characteristic

characteristic

characteristic

of me

of me

of me

of me

of me

1. ____ When I feel myself getting caught up in my thoughts or feelings, I am able to bring my mind back to what’s happening right now.

2. ____ I don't consciously try to be accepting of whatever thoughts and feelings I have.

3. ____ I try to be open to whatever happens, as it's happening, instead of having my mind wander to other things.

4. ____ I intentionally try to be accepting of my thoughts and feelings as they occur.

5. ____ When I notice that I'm not engaged in the present moment I can gently bring myself back.

6. ____ If I notice that I’m being hard on myself for the thoughts and feelings I’m experiencing, I try to be kind to myself instead.

a7. ____ I don't intentionally try to be aware of the present moment.

8. ____ If I notice that I'm being critical of my thoughts or feelings, I try to be more accepting of them instead.

aThis item was dropped to improve internal consistency, resulting in a seven-item measure.

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Erisman, S.M., Roemer, L. A Preliminary Investigation of the Process of Mindfulness. Mindfulness 3, 30–43 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-011-0078-x

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