Validation of the Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences (CHIME) in Portuguese Children

Despite the increasing interest in mindfulness, there are few multifaceted mindfulness measures for children, mainly in Portuguese. Thus, this study developed the Portuguese version of the Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences (CHIME). Because this scale was initially created for adolescents, we also aimed to adapt it to children.

After translating the original CHIME to Portuguese and adapting the wording for children, the instrument was administered to 223 9–10-year-olds, along with self-report measures of affect and quality of life, teacher-rated measures of inhibition, inattention, and emotional lability, and a performance-based attentional measure. We examined CHIME’s factorial validity, inspected facets’ reliability, and tested convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity.

Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) supported a 7-factor structure of the scale, after removing the accepting and non-judgmental attitude facet. Factor loadings (> .34) and reliability indices (> .54) were acceptable, though the average variance extracted was less than desirable. Correlations with external correlates provided support to CHIME’s convergent and divergent validity (rs range .13–.55, ps < .05). Finally, evidence of predictive validity was found with a regression analysis showing that external awareness (b =  − .16) and openness to experience (b =  − .17) predicted academic achievement.

This study provided preliminary validity and reliability evidence on the Portuguese CHIME. This instrument can provide relevant insights about the mindfulness facets and offer useful indications for the development of evidence-based interventions in childhood.