The toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation

TLDR

The study developed and validated the Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS), a self‑report measure of mindfulness. The authors conducted two studies: Study 1 compared participants with and without meditation experience, and Study 2 assessed criterion and incremental validity of the TMS in individuals undergoing an 8‑week mindfulness‑based stress‑reduction program. The TMS demonstrated good internal consistency, a two‑factor structure (Curiosity and Decentering), and scores that rose with meditation experience and after an 8‑week MBSR program, with Decentering predicting clinical improvement. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., J Clin Psychol 62: 1445–1467.

Abstract

In this study, the authors both developed and validated a self-report mindfulness measure, the Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS). In Study 1, participants were individuals with and without meditation experience. Results showed good internal consistency and two factors, Curiosity and Decentering. Most of the expected relationships with other constructs were as expected. The TMS scores increased with increasing mindfulness meditation experience. In Study 2, criterion and incremental validity of the TMS were investigated on a group of individuals participating in 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction programs. Results showed that TMS scores increased following treatment, and Decentering scores predicted improvements in clinical outcome. Thus, the TMS is a promising measure of the mindfulness state with good psychometric properties and predictive of treatment outcome. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 62: 1445–1467, 2006.