Mindfulness for the masses: Understanding the approachability of mindfulness-based interventions and measurement of mindfulness among understudied diverse communities

Evidence for the therapeutic effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been demonstrated primarily in high-socioeconomic, White samples. The under-representation of socioeconomically and racially and ethnically diverse samples in MBI studies has raised questions about the approachability and cultural relevancy of MBIs for these communities. Further, among the few studies that have included diverse samples, scores on self-report measures of mindfulness are difficult to interpret because mindfulness scales have also nearly exclusively been validated in socioeconomically and racially homogenous samples. Using a mixed-methods approach (focus groups and quantitative surveys) we aim to: a) characterize and develop a model to understand general perceptions of mindfulness, interest in MBIs, and potential barriers and facilitators to engaging with MBIs in a community sample of socioeconomically diverse Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Black, and White participants with elevated stress (N=600) and; b) examine the validity, reliability, and cross-cultural performance of the Five Facet of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in each racial/ethnic group in our sample. Results will provide an evidence-based framework that will inform how to improve the approachability of MBIs at the population-level. Findings will additionally indicate whether the FFMQ can be used to accurately measure mindfulness across socioeconomically and racially and ethnically diverse communities.