Core Measures for Mindfulness Studies

We aim to develop a set of recommended “core measures” for mindfulness-based intervention research that can strengthen individual studies and facilitate pooled data analyses and meta-analyses. While most studies require study specific outcome measures, there are domains that are appropriate to measure across studies.  These includes self-report measures of important common outcomes (e.g. stress and mood) and functions specifically targeted by mindfulness training (e.g. behavioral, or cognitive responses to standardized tasks or naturalistic daily stimuli).  Domains we anticipate covering include intervention effects on affect dynamics, attentional processes, and pro-social behavior. We will carefully assess the pros and cons of available measures, their appropriateness for mindfulness research, and develop a menu of recommended measures. We will bring together a diverse group of researchers from several disciplines, including mindfulness teachers. To disseminate findings, we aim to publish a joint paper, and the UCSF Osher Center will host a website summarizing recommendations.

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