The mismeasurement of mindfulness: Evidence from network analysis of a jangle fallacy in popular mindfulness scales

Many scientific papers on mindfulness and its psychological implications are published annually, yet doubts persist regarding the validity of self-report mindfulness measures, as some researchers argue that they capture established concepts instead of mindfulness itself. We explored this possibility empirically by examining the relation between two commonly used measures: the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and such constructs as body awareness, emotion expression, attention regulation, and emotion regulation. After selecting measures with high factor loadings from a pool of candidates using independent samples for each FFMQ facet (total N = 680), we applied them to a national adult sample (N = 588). Results of psychometric network analysis revealed stronger connections of all FFMQ subscales with better-established constructs rather than with each other. A similar pattern emerged for the MAAS. Findings suggest a jangle fallacy in these popular mindfulness instruments, measuring established concepts instead of a distinct mindfulness construct.