Validation of a Chinese version of the five facet mindfulness questionnaire and development of a short form based on item response theory

This research aimed to validate a Chinese version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-C) and develop a short form based on classic test theory and Item Response Theory (IRT). 539 participants were recruited for the study, with 499 of them yielding valid data. The age range of the participants was from 18 to 71 years. Results demonstrated high test-retest reliability and high internal consistency of FFMQ-C. Based on the full-scale results, a 15-item short-form scale (FFMQ-C-SF) was developed using both classic test theory and IRT. The short form also had good internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the five-factor structure of the FFMQ-C and FFMQ-C-SF with adequate model fit. Validity was indicated by significant correlations between the two mindfulness scales and theoretically related constructs (e.g., emotional intelligence and experiential avoidance). Our findings indicate that FFMQ-C and FFMQ-C-SF can be used to measure mindfulness among the Chinese population.