The Psychometric Performance of State Mindfulness Scales Around Sitting and Walking on Desert Trails: A Pilot Study

Abstract

State mindfulness is a dynamic construct reflecting current mindfulness, or purposeful attention to the present moment with openness, non-judgment, non-reactivity, and acceptance. Despite its popularity and research in psychology and medicine, measuring state mindfulness remains a challenge. Validity and reliability of the State Mindfulness Scale (SMS) and State Mindfulness Scale for Physical Activity (SMS-PA) in applied settings like nature require more data to be established. This pilot study aimed to evaluate these scales and introduce a new, one-item scale, the Visual Analog Scale-Mindfulness (VAS-M), for quicker mindfulness assessment. Participants completed the SMS, SMS-PA, and VAS-M upon arrival at a desert trail, after 10 minutes of sitting, and after 10 minutes of walking. A subset repeated the intervention 24 hours later. The study found that the SMS and SMS-PA could be given before, during, and after nature immersion. The SMS-PA showed evidence of concurrent validity with the SMS (ρ = .89, p < .001). However, the VAS-M did not meet the criteria for concurrent validity with the other scales. None of the scales met the criteria for test-retest reliability. This study underscores the need to validate state mindfulness scales, especially in non-laboratory settings. While the SMS-PA shows promise, further validation and refinement of the VAS-M are needed. The findings enhance our understanding of measuring state mindfulness, particularly in natural environments. While the scales are already in use, our study helps address gaps in evidence and informs future decisions about their application.