Deconstructing the Self: Type of Meditation and Frequency of Practice Thresholds Associated with a Deconstructed Self

Spanish versions of three psychological scales—the Quiet Ego Scale (QES), the Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment (NADA), and the Ontological Addiction Scale (OAS‑24)—showed good reliability and validity in a sample of 242 Spanish adults. The QES and NADA fit a bifactor structure, while the OAS‑24 fit a one-factor structure. Scores were comparable across genders and meditation experience. Women scored higher on the QES, but no gender differences appeared for the NADA or OAS‑24. Meditators reported higher QES and NADA scores and lower OAS‑24 scores than non-meditators. Low-ego individuals were more likely to meditate and had accumulated more lifetime practice. An optimal threshold of 376 lifetime meditation hours discriminated low- from high-ego profiles.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Objectives: The psychometric properties of the Spanish versions of the Quiet Ego Scale (QES), the Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment (NADA), and the Ontological Addiction Scale (OAS‑24) were examined. Methods: The analyzed sample was composed of 242 adults from the Spanish general population. Factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent validity were tested, along with invariance across genders and meditation experience. A composite self-function index was developed to compare participants with high- and low-ego functioning.Results: Confirmatory models supported a bifactor structure for the QES (CFI=.93, TLI=.90, RMSEA=.104) and the NADA (CFI=.97, TLI=.96, RMSEA=.12) and a one‑factor structure for the OAS‑24 (CFI=.92, TLI=.91, RMSEA=.08), with good internal consistency. Further, QES, NADA, and OAS‑24 scores were invariant across gender and meditation experience, enabling valid comparisons: women scored higher on the QES (p=.020), with no gender differences in the NADA or the OAS‑24. Meditators reported higher QES and NADA (p<.001) and lower OAS‑24 (p=.002) scores than non‑meditators. Finally, low‑ego individuals were more likely to meditate (87.5% vs. 42.9%), had greater lifetime practice (median ≈ 852 vs. 127 hours), and devoted more time to values‑based and deconstructive techniques. An optimal threshold of 376 lifetime hours to discriminate low‑ vs. high‑ego profiles was identified (AUC=.81; sensitivity=.65; specificity=.88). Conclusions: Findings provide positive evidence about the psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptations of the QES, the NADA, and the OAS-24. Further, the amount and type of meditation needed to achieve a “deconstructed self” is identified. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered.