Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale – PHLMS
A bi-dimensional measure of mindfulness assessing present-moment awareness and acceptance.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale – PHLMS was developed by L. Cardaciotto, J. D. Herbert, E. M. Forman, E. Moitra, V. Farrow (2008). It is designed to measure Mindfulness (Awareness and Acceptance). The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Awareness, Acceptance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Awareness | 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19 | 10 |
| Acceptance | 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20 | 10 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 10 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 10 to 50. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low: 10 – 25
- Moderate: 26 – 37
- High: 38 – 50
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Awareness: alpha = .75 – .81; Acceptance: alpha = .75 – .82.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.