Abstract
Although mindfulness researchers have begun to integrate aspects of body awareness into the development of new scales, these scales do not embrace all aspects of embodiment. The recently developed Embodied Mindfulness Questionnaire (EMQ) aims to fully integrate the body and mind-body connection in conceptualizing and operationalizing mindfulness. Based on the theory of embodiment, the EMQ is comprised of five dimensions, each representing a set of skills or abilities that can be cultivated through training and practice, namely, via meditation. These dimensions are: (1) detachment from automatic thinking, (2) attention and awareness of feelings and bodily sensations, (3) connection with the body, (4) awareness of the mind-body connection, and (5) acceptance of feelings and bodily sensations. The EMQ was devised through consultations with a group of graduate students and experts in the field. Results from a series of studies supported the five dimensions of EMQ, suggesting these subscales are independent and differ in sensitivity to mindfulness training as well as meditation practice and experience. Therefore, this set of five skills can be cultivated independently or sequentially (i.e., build on each other). Implications, limitations, and the scoring of the EMQ subscales are discussed in this chapter.
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Appendix: Scale in Its Current Version
Appendix: Scale in Its Current Version
Instructions: Listed below is a collection of statements about your everyday experiences. Please read each statement carefully, and using the scale below, please indicate how often you experience each of the following. Please answer according to what accurately reflects your experience rather than what you think your experience should be.
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(1)
Almost Never
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(2)
Rarely
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(3)
Sometimes
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(4)
Often
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(5)
Almost Always
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1.
I get absorbed by my thoughts.
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2.
I feel detached from my body.
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3.
I am attached to my thoughts.
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4.
I feel separated from my body.
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5.
I tend to believe my thoughts.
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6.
I feel disconnected from my body.
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7.
I get caught up in my thoughts.
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8.
I give a lot of importance to my thoughts.
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9.
I feel removed from my body.
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10.
I am able to feel sensations throughout my body.
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11.
I notice the link between feeling anxious and unease in my body.
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12.
I notice the link between feeling sad and sensations of heaviness in my body.
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13.
I notice how my negative thoughts impact my mood.
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14.
I feel distanced from my body.
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15.
I distract myself from unpleasant sensations.
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16.
I notice my physical sensations.
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17.
I distract myself from my negative feelings.
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18.
I notice the association between feeling angry and tension in my body.
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19.
I try to escape negative feelings.
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20.
I avoid unpleasant physical sensations.
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21.
I am aware of my physical sensations.
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22.
I can easily direct my attention to my physical sensations.
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23.
I try to escape unpleasant physical sensations.
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24.
I notice changes in my physical sensations.
Note: Each dimension is computed separately using the means of its items. A total score should not be computed for EMQ. R means the item is reverse-scored.
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1.
EMQ (Detachment from Automatic Thinking) = (EMQ1R + EMQ3R + EMQ5R + EMQ7R + EMQ8R) / 5
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2.
EMQ (Attention and Awareness of Feelings and Bodily Sensations) = (EMQ10 + EMQ16 + EMQ21 + EMQ22 + EMQ24) / 5
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3.
EMQ (Disconnection from the Body) = (EMQ2 + EMQ4 + EMQ6 + EMQ9 + EMQ14) / 5
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4.
EMQ (Awareness of the Mind-Body Connection) = (EMQ11 + EMQ12 + EMQ13 + EMQ18) / 4
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5.
EMQ (Acceptance of Feelings and Bodily Sensations) = (EMQ15R + EMQ17R + EMQ19R + EMQ20R + EMQ23R) / 5
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Khoury, B., Vergara, R.C., Spinelli, C., Sadowski, I. (2023). Embodied Mindfulness Questionnaire (EMQ). In: Medvedev, O.N., Krägeloh, C.U., Siegert, R.J., Singh, N.N. (eds) Handbook of Assessment in Mindfulness Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77644-2_74-1
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