The brief mind wandering three-factor scale (BMW-3)
In recent years, researchers from different fields have become increasingly interested in measuring individual differences in mind wandering as a psychological trait. Although there are several questionnaires that allow for an assessment of people’s perceptions of their mind wandering experiences, t...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
11 September 2024
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| In: |
Behavior research methods
Year: 2024, Volume: 56, Issue: 8, Pages: 8720-8744 |
| ISSN: | 1554-3528 |
| DOI: | 10.3758/s13428-024-02500-6 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-024-02500-6
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| Author Notes: | Anna-Lena Schubert, Gidon T. Frischkorn, Kathrin Sadus, Matthew S. Welhaf, Michael J. Kane, Jan Rummel |
| Summary: | In recent years, researchers from different fields have become increasingly interested in measuring individual differences in mind wandering as a psychological trait. Although there are several questionnaires that allow for an assessment of people’s perceptions of their mind wandering experiences, they either define mind wandering in a very broad sense or do not sufficiently separate different aspects of mind wandering. Here, we introduce the Brief Mind Wandering Three-Factor Scale (BMW-3), a 12-item questionnaire available in German and English. The BMW-3 conceptualizes mind wandering as task-unrelated thought and measures three dimensions of mind wandering: unintentional mind wandering, intentional mind wandering, and meta-awareness of mind wandering. Based on results from 1038 participants (823 German speakers, 215 English speakers), we found support for the proposed three-factorial structure of mind wandering and for scalar measurement invariance of the German and English versions. All subscales showed good internal consistencies and moderate to high test-retest correlations and thus provide an effective assessment of individual differences in mind wandering. Moreover, the BMW-3 showed good convergent validity when compared to existing retrospective measures of mind wandering and mindfulness and was related to conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness as well as self-reported attentional control. Lastly, it predicted the propensity for mind wandering inside and outside the lab (as assessed by in-the-moment experience sampling), the frequency of experiencing depressive symptoms, and the use of functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. All in all, the BMW-3 provides a brief, reliable, and valid assessment of mind wandering for basic and clinical research. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 28.02.2025 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1554-3528 |
| DOI: | 10.3758/s13428-024-02500-6 |