Mindfulness scale: what it is and how to measure it

In psychological research, mindfulness is measured as a trait: how far a person pays attention to and is aware of what is happening in the present moment in daily life. Brown and Ryan (2003) built the 15-item MAAS, a single-factor scale describing 'automatic pilot' and inattentive states; respondents report how often they have these experiences. In Vietnam, the MAAS is used in theses on student stress and mental health, occupational burnout, and conscious consumption.

Comparing the scales

Items of each scale

Original English wording from the published source. Replace placeholders such as [system] or [brand] with what your study is about, and pilot the questionnaire with 20 to 30 respondents first.

Mindful Attention Awareness (MAAS) · Mindfulness scale (MAAS)

Code	Item
MAAS1	I could be experiencing some emotion and not be conscious of it until some time later.
MAAS2	I break or spill things because of carelessness, not paying attention, or thinking of something else.
MAAS3	I find it difficult to stay focused on what's happening in the present.
MAAS4	I tend to walk quickly to get where I'm going without paying attention to what I experience along the way.
MAAS5	I tend not to notice feelings of physical tension or discomfort until they really grab my attention.
MAAS6	I forget a person's name almost as soon as I've been told it for the first time.
MAAS7	It seems I am "running on automatic," without much awareness of what I'm doing.
MAAS8	I rush through activities without being really attentive to them.
MAAS9	I get so focused on the goal I want to achieve that I lose touch with what I'm doing right now to get there.
MAAS10	I do jobs or tasks automatically, without being aware of what I'm doing.
MAAS11	I find myself listening to someone with one ear, doing something else at the same time.
MAAS12	I drive places on "automatic pilot" and then wonder why I went there.
MAAS13	I find myself preoccupied with the future or the past.
MAAS14	I find myself doing things without paying attention.
MAAS15	I snack without being aware that I'm eating.

Source: Brown & Ryan (2003). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Mindfulness scale (MAAS).

Use in the survey kit

Tips

• The items describe inattentive states, but the frequency scale is designed so that a high score means high mindfulness (1 = almost always, 6 = almost never); keep the direction of the labels when translating.
• Do not add the MAAS to agreement scales because the type and number of response points differ.
• With 15 unidimensional items, alpha is usually high; above 0.95, check for redundant items.
• Suited to theses on mental health, stress, and burnout.

Once you have a scale, put the concept in the research model drawer to state your hypotheses, work out the minimum sample size, and after data collection check reliability with the Cronbach's alpha calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What role does mindfulness usually play in a model?

Usually an independent or moderating variable, for example mindfulness reduces stress and burnout, or weakens the effect of pressure on mental health.

How is the MAAS scored?

Take the mean of the 15 items on the 1 to 6 frequency scale; higher scores mean higher mindfulness.

Do I need to back-translate the MAAS?

Yes, it is advisable, because wording describing psychological states is easily understood differently in translation; then pilot with 20 to 30 people.

References

• Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822–848. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822