Validation of the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale on experienced meditators and nonmeditators

OBJECTIVE: The Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale's (PHLMS) psychometric properties, theoretical assumptions, convergent validity, and relationships to symptom, happiness and social desirability measures were investigated in novel samples. METHODS: Internet-recruited general public samples of experienced meditators (n = 67, 21 male, 46 female, average age 50) and nonmeditators (n = 61, 28 male, 32 female, and 1 transgender; average age 41.9) were used. RESULTS: Meditators scored higher than nonmeditators on both PHLMS Acceptance, t(126) = 2.77, p < .01, d = 0.49, and Awareness t(126) = 4.18, p < .01, d = 0.74. Higher PHLMS Acceptance subscale scores were associated with decreased scores on all symptom measures in nonmeditators, but only in select measures among meditators. Generally, PHLMS Awareness subscale scores were not related to symptoms. Awareness interacted with meditator status on outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: PHLMS may be used in the general public and experienced meditator populations. Mindfulness facets become intercorrelated in experienced meditators.