What can we learn from randomized clinical trials about the construct validity of self-report measures of mindfulness? A meta-analysis

Authors

Simon B. Goldberg, Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Raymond P. Tucker, Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Preston A. Greene, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Tracy L. Simpson, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
William T. Hoyt, Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
David J. Kearney, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Richard J. Davidson, Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2019

Abstract

Because they provide data on responsiveness to experimental manipulation, clinical trials involving mindfulness-based interventions are a source of evidence for the construct validity of self-report measures of mindfulness. Within-group and between-group changes in mindfulness were examined from randomized clinical trials comparing mindfulness interventions to other treatment comparison conditions or waitlist control conditions. We also examined changes in clinical outcomes and the magnitude of these changes relative to changes in mindfulness. We included 69 published studies representing 55 unique samples ( = 4,743). Self-report mindfulness measures showed relatively larger gains in mindfulness intervention conditions vis-à-vis waitlist comparison conditions at both post-treatment (effect size [ES] = 0.52, 95% CI [0.40, 0.64]) and follow-up (ES = 0.52 [0.20, 0.84]), although the effect at follow-up diminished to non-significance in a trim-and-fill analysis intended to account for publication bias (ES = 0.35 [-0.03, 0.72]). Measures of mindfulness also showed relatively larger gains in mindfulness intervention conditions vis-à-vis comparison conditions, but only at post-treatment (ES = 0.25 [0.11, 0.38], 0.10 [-0.08, 0.28], at post-treatment and follow-up, respectively). All three conditions (mindfulness, , waitlist) showed relatively larger improvements on measures of clinical outcomes than measures of mindfulness, with the exception of waitlist conditions for which this effect was no longer significant at follow-up. Taken together, findings provide partial support for the unique responsiveness of mindfulness self-report measures to interventions that include promotion of mindfulness meditation practice.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Mindfulness

First Page

775

Last Page

785

Recommended Citation

Goldberg, S. B., Tucker, R. P., Greene, P. A., Simpson, T. L., Hoyt, W. T., Kearney, D. J., & Davidson, R. J. (2019). What can we learn from randomized clinical trials about the construct validity of self-report measures of mindfulness? A meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 10 (5), 775-785. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-018-1032-y