Rasch analysis of the Spanish version of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) in a clinical sample.
BACKGROUND
The clinical use of mindfulness has increased recently, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) has become one of the most used tools to measure it. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of mindfulness training and analyzing the psychometric properties of the MAAS scores in a clinical sample using the Rasch Model.


METHODS
One hundred and ninety-nine participants with mood-anxiety clinical symptoms were recruited. The experimental group (n=103) received mindfulness training, and the control group (n=96) a conventional outpatient treatment for the same duration. The pre-post MAAS scores were analyzed to test the effectiveness of training, the psychometric properties of the scores, and differential item functioning (DIF) using the Rating Scale Model (RSM).


RESULTS
Misfit in items 9 and 12, DIF in item 9, and Spanish translation problems in the items 5, 9 and 12 were observed. The repetition of the analysis without these items was decided. Appropriate dimensionality, fit and reliability values were obtained with the short version, MAAS-12.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to previous studies, the MAAS was sensitive to treatment-associated change. However, the commonly used MAAS has some translation and metric problems, and should be revised. MAAS-12 is a better scale than MAAS but suffers from construct under-representation. Constructing tools from a coherent theoretical perspective is suggested, so that all mindfulness facets are represented.
Servicio de Psiquiatría, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Badajoz, Badajoz, España. Electronic address: felixinchausti@usal.es.
Felix
F
Inchausti
Departamento de Psicología Básica, Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España.
Gerardo
G
Prieto
Departamento de Psicología Básica, Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España.
Ana R
AR
Delgado
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations; D055815:Young Adult
Atención plena; Item Response Theory; Meditation; Mindful Attention Awareness Scale; Mindfulness; Modelo de Rasch; Rasch model; Teoría de Respuesta al Ítem