Assessing mindfulness: The Spanish version of the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale

Abstract

The goals of this research were to translate the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and analyze the psychometric properties of the resulting Spanish version. A total of 330 students took part in this study. We performed a confirmatory factor analysis (WLSMV estimator) to test the factor structure, computed the ordinal alpha to evaluate evidence of reliability, calculated the square root of the average variance explained to check the discriminant validity, and accomplished a structural equation model to test the concurrentvalidity. Students weregrouped in classes, soparameters and standard error were estimated by maximizing a weighted log likelihood function by using a sandwich estimator. Missing data was estimated using expectation-maximization algorithm. Results showed evidence of reliability and of factorial, discriminant and concurrent validity. Mindfulness showed a positive effect on three indicators of well-being, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and subjective vitality. In conclusion, the results support the use of the Spanish version of the MAAS.