Belief in the Powers of Mindfulness Scale (BPMS)

Abstract

The Belief in the Powers of Mindfulness Scale (BPMS; Rahmani, van Mulukom, & Farias, 2023) was developed to measure key beliefs about the power of mindfulness to transform the individual and society. Insights from fieldwork and the thematic analysis of the interviews were integrated to create the BPMS items. Thereafter, data collection including the additional in-depth interviews took place concurrent with the survey. The resulting measure was administered to an online sample of adults (18-73 years). Factor analysis supported a single dimension for 9 items. Results concerning reliability and validity were reported.

Keywords

Mindfulness; Mindfulness Expectations; Mindfulness Power Beliefs

Authors

Rahmani, Masoumeh; van Mulukom, Valerie; Farias, Miguel

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Purpose

The BPMS assesses people’s beliefs about the powers of mindfulness.

Validity

Convergent validity: In line with expectations, beliefs in the transformative powers of mindfulness were greater in individuals who had meditated for longer and more frequently. Results also found that self-reported mindfulness skills were significantly and positively correlated with BPMS. Participants from the USA scored higher on BPMS than those from the UK, as did older participants as compared to younger. Higher levels of spirituality, but not religiosity, were associated with greater beliefs in the transformative powers of mindfulness.

Reliability

Internal consistency: Both Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega for these items was 0.89.

Factor Analysis

Principal axis factor analysis: Results revealed that the 1st unrotated factor accounted for 54.0% of the common variance (eigenvalue = 4.86). Considering a tapering off in the scree plot, and the fact that the next factor’s eigenvalue was 0.85, accounting for just 9.4% of the common variance, no further factors were analysed.

Instrument: Belief in the Powers of Mindfulness Scale (BPMS)

Test Type: Original rating scale.

Format: Items are rated with Likert scale response options.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Human; Male; Female

Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older); Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs); Thirties (30-39 yrs); Middle Age (40-64 yrs); Aged (65 yrs & older)

Population Details: Location: United States; United Kingdom. Respondents: Adults.

Test Methodology: Test Validity; Convergent Validity; Test Reliability; Internal Consistency; Factor Analysis; Qualitative Assessment Methods. The scale consists of 9 items. The administration method is electronic.

Keywords

Attitude Measures; Expectations; Mindfulness

Authors

Author ocrid Identifier:

• Farias, Miguel: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5925-795X

Affiliation Email addresses:

• Rahmani, Masoumeh: Victoria University of Wellington School of Social and Cultural Studies

• van Mulukom, Valerie: Coventry University Brain, Belief and Behaviour Lab, Centre for Trust, Peace, and Social Relations

• Farias, Miguel: Coventry University Brain, Belief and Behaviour Lab, Centre for Trust, Peace, and Social Relations

Correspondence Address:

• Rahmani, Masoumeh: [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: May use for Research/Teaching.
Commercial Use: No
Fee: No
Test Year: 2023
Website for permissions: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References

Rahmani, M., van Mulukom, V., & Farias, M. (2023). Believing in the powers of mindfulness: A thematic narrative approach and the development of a new scale. Mindfulness, 14(7), 1689–1704. doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02164-x

Items of the Belief in the Powers of Mindfulness Scale (BPMS)

Belief in the Powers of Mindfulness Scale (BPMS)

1. Mindfulness Meditation makes us much more compassionate.

2. Accepting reality without judgments has enabled me to develop more meaningful relationships with others.

3. Mindfulness Meditation allows me to see the negative aspects of my behavior and to improve my relationship with others.†

4. If everyone did Mindfulness Meditation, there would be much less violence in the world.

5. Mindfulness Meditation should be taught as part of the school curricula.

6. Mindfulness Meditation provides me with a tool to navigate an inner map to wisdom.

7. Mindfulness Meditation allows me to understand the truth about myself and others.

8. Becoming mindful is something I really value in my life.

9. Mindfulness Meditation allows me to see the negative aspects of my behavior and to improve myself.

Note

†Given the double-barreled nature of this item (i.e., two statements within one item), we suggest that in future research this item is either split into two or used without the second statement given Item 2; i.e., “Mindfulness Meditation allows me to see the negative aspects of my behavior.”

For this scale, participants are asked to indicate their agreement with each of the statements on a Likert scale anchored from Strongly disagree (–2.5), to Disagree (–1.5), Somewhat disagree (–0.5), Somewhat agree (0.5), Agree (1.5), and Strongly agree (2.5).