Responding mindfully to unpleasant thoughts and images: Reliability and validity of the Southampton mindfulness questionnaire (SMQ)

Paul Chadwick, Martin Hember, Janette Symes, Emmanuelle Peters, Elizabeth Kuipers, Dave Dagnan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

310 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective. To assess the reliability and validity of the Southampton mindfulness questionnaire (SMQ), a 16-item measure of mindful awareness of distressing thoughts and images. Methods. A total of 256 people participated, comprising a non-clinical community sample of 134 (83 meditators and 51 non-meditators) and a clinical sample of 122 people with a current distressing psychosis. To assess concurrent validity, non-clinical participants and half clinical participants (total 197 participants) completed the mindful attention awareness scale (MAAS). Predicted links were assessed with affect, and 59 patients completed a validated measure to assess link between mindfulness and intensity of 'delusional' experience. Results. The scale has a single factor structure, was internally reliable, significantly correlated with the MAAS, showed expected associations with affect, and distinguished among meditators, non-meditators and people with psychosis. Conclusions. The data support use of the SMQ in clinical practice and research to assess mindful responding to distressing thoughts and images.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)451 - 455
Number of pages5
JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Psychology
Volume47
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2008

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