Exploring the Applicability of a Multifactor Mindfulness Scale in Chinese College Context

Abstract

Abstract Background: Owing to the lack of a precise and comprehensive mindfulness measurement tool capable of capturing all facets of mindfulness, developing such an assessment tool has become an intriguing and worthwhile area of exploration. This study investigates the applicability of a multifactor mindfulness scale to Chinese college students. In particular, it tests the applicability of the Chinese version of the Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences (CHIME) in college students. Methods: Prior to the formal test, 410 subjects completed the CHIME-37. The feedback received from this pretest was used to obtain the final descriptions. During the formal assessment, 1927 subjects participated, and 490 students were retested two months later. The criteria-related validity of the CHIME-37 was assessed using instruments such as the subjective well-being scale, psychological well-being scale, peace of mind scale, self-reflection and insight scale, emotion regulation scale, depression-anxiety-stress scale, and sickness questionnaire. Results: The sample was randomly divided into two halves. In the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of Sample 1 (n = 838), CHIME comprised 8 factors: 1) Awareness of internal experiences, 2) Awareness of external experiences, 3) Mindful action, 4) Acceptance and non-judgment, 5) Decentering and non-reactivity, 6) Experiential openness, 7) Relativity of thoughts and reality, and 8) Insightful understanding. The cumulative variance accounted for 70.696%. Confirmatory factor, criterion-related validity, and internal consistency analyses were conducted on the randomly split 947 samples for validation. Confirmatory factor analysis of Sample 2 confirmed the 8-factor model (x2/df = 1.751, CFI = 0.981, TLI = 0.979, RMSEA = 0.028). The internal consistency coefficients of the eight dimensions range from 0.848 to 0.914, with test-retest reliabilities ranging from 0.746 to 0.885, and split-half reliabilities ranging from 0.795 to 0.898. Total scores and scores on the eight dimensions are significantly positively correlated with subjective well-being, psychological well-being, emotion stability, and cognitive reappraisal (P < 0.01), while they are negatively correlated with physical and mental illnesses, depression-anxiety-stress, and expressive inhibition (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The revised version of the CHIME demonstrates robust reliability and validity, establishing it as a suitable tool for measuring the mindfulness levels of Chinese college students.