Using Mindful Attention Awareness Scale on male prisoners: Confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch models

Aim This study tested the construct validity (i.e., factor structure) of Persian Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) on a sample male prisoners. Methods All participants (mean±SD age = 39.44±7.94 years) completed three scales—the MAAS, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Confirmatory analysis (CFA) Rasch with differential item functioning (DIF) were applied to examine MAAS. Specifically, DIF was across different insomnia status (using ISI cutoff 15), psychiatric well-being GHQ-12 12), mean 39.44 as cutoff). Results The CFA results showed single solution for all MAAS items fit in (infit square [MnSq] 0.72 1.41; outfit MnSq 0.74 1.39) without displaying (DIF contrast -0.34 0.31 condition; -0.22 0.25 well-being; -0.26 0.29 age). Conclusions version is, therefore, valid instrument measure mindfulness among Iranian