Validation of the Persian Version of the Langer Mindfulness Scale.

Fatemeh Moafian,Hooshang Khoshsima,Francesco Pagnini

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00468

Abstract

This study validates the Persian version of the Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS). The original scale consists of 21 items and 4 subscales; namely, novelty producing, novelty seeking, engagement, and flexibility. In this study, four samples including 2271 individuals in total participated. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to test the factorial structure of the Persian version. The results verified a two-factor structure including novelty producing and novelty seeking for the scale and the two subscales of engagement and flexibility were omitted due to marginal fit. The questionnaire showed satisfying psychometric properties in terms of reliability. Furthermore, convergent and discriminant validity of the instrument was examined via investigating the relationship between the Persian LMS with the WHOQOL instrument and negative and positive affect scales. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between the Persian LMS and positive affect, physical health, psychological health and environmental health. No significant correlations were found between the LMS, social relationships and negative affect.

Highlights

Mindfulness is a multifaceted and complex concept that has been investigated by scientists for the last 40 years (Pagnini and Phillips, 2015)
The fourth sample (N = 150) was recruited and the participants were required to fill out the obtained Persian Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS) and the Persian versions of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL) instrument and negative and positive affect scales
The results revealed that there were statistically significant positive associations between the scores in the LMS and those in the positive affect (r = 0.49, p < 0.05), physical health (r = 0.29, p < 0.05), psychological health (r = 0.34, p < 0.05) and environmental health (r = 0.21, p < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Mindfulness is a multifaceted and complex concept that has been investigated by scientists for the last 40 years (Pagnini and Phillips, 2015). There are two main approaches to mindfulness, namely Eastern and Western. The Eastern approach is rooted in Theravada Buddhism and it was westernized by Kabat-Zinn (1990). It focuses on present-based attention and a non-evaluative perspective, and it is closely related to the practice of meditation. While in harmony with fundamental tenets of Buddhist-based mindfulness, the Western approach provides a different framework for understanding and achieving mindfulness. It has been developed by Langer (1989); Langer et al (1978), and it considers mindfulness as the process of drawing novel distinction. We will refer to this latter definition of mindfulness

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Discussion

Conclusion