Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, FFMQ

Mindfulness is the ability to stay aware of the present moment: what you are doing, what you are feeling, and what is going on around you, without getting pulled into constant self-criticism or automatic reactions. It helps you notice which experiences need your attention and which you can let pass.

That awareness makes it easier to respond to life deliberately rather than on autopilot.

In 2006, Ruth A. Baer and colleagues published the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) to measure how people tend to be mindful in everyday life. Scores reflect five facets:

• Observing — noticing bodily sensations, thoughts, and feelings as they arise (including unpleasant ones) and staying present with them.
• Describing — putting experiences, feelings, and sensations into words.
• Acting with awareness — focusing on what you are doing in the moment instead of running on autopilot or drifting into worry or daydreams.
• Nonjudging — not harshly judging yourself for your thoughts, feelings, words, or actions.
• Nonreactivity — letting difficult thoughts and feelings come and go without getting swept away or immediately acting on every inner impulse.

Research supports the FFMQ as a valid measure related to outcomes such as anxiety, neuroticism, and alexithymia; it is widely used in research and clinical settings.

References

Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness.

Instructions

Below is a series of statements. For each one, choose the response that best describes how true it is for you in general.