Mindfulness is composed of at least five distinct facets, as shown by analyses of five new questionnaires given to two large groups of undergraduates. Four of these facets appear to be part of an overall mindfulness construct, and their structure may differ depending on meditation experience. The facets relate differently to other psychological constructs and predict psychological symptoms beyond what other measures do, supporting a multifaceted view of mindfulness.
Mindfulness as measured by self-report includes five component skills: observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience, and nonreactivity to inner experience, assessed with the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). The authors examined the construct validity of the FFMQ in experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups. Most mindfulness facets were significantly related to meditation experience and to psychological symptoms and well-being. The relationship between the observing facet and psychological adjustment varied with meditation experience. Several facets independently predicted well-being and mediated the relationship between meditation experience and well-being, supporting the FFMQ's construct validity in these samples.