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Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills
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About Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills
Scale Name
Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills
Author Details
Ruth A. Baer, Gregory T. Smith and Kristin B. Allen
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
Mindfulness, the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment, has gained significant traction in recent years. Yet, measuring the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions and individual levels of mindfulness skill remained a challenge. This is where the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) stepped in, providing a reliable and widely used tool for assessing mindfulness.
In 2004, Ruth A. Baer, a leading researcher in mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies, along with Gregory T. Smith and Kristin B. Allen, recognized the need for a standardized tool to evaluate the core components of mindfulness. Drawing upon existing theories and research, they developed the KIMS, aiming to capture four key mindfulness skills:
- Observing: The ability to focus attention on the present moment, acknowledging internal and external experiences without getting caught up in thoughts or judgments.
- Describing: Accurately identifying and labeling thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without attaching meaning or interpretation.
- Acting with Awareness: Choosing responses to internal and external events rather than reacting automatically or impulsively.
Accepting Without Judgment: Experiencing thoughts, feelings, and sensations openly and non-judgmentally, allowing them to come and go without resistance.
The KIMS consists of 39 self-report items, with each subscale containing questions relevant to the specific skill. Individuals rate their agreement with statements like “I pay attention to the physical sensations in my body” (Observing) or “I accept my feelings without trying to change them” (Accepting Without Judgment).
By analyzing responses, the KIMS provides an overall score reflecting an individual’s general level of mindfulness skills. Additionally, subscale scores allow for a more specific understanding of strengths and weaknesses across the four dimensions.
The development of the KIMS marked a significant advancement in mindfulness research and clinical practice. Its user-friendly format, strong psychometric properties, and comprehensive assessment of key skills made it a popular choice for researchers, clinicians, and individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of mindfulness.
Whether used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, track personal progress, or simply gain insights into one’s own mindfulness strengths and areas for growth, the KIMS continues to play a valuable role in cultivating awareness and mindful living.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Preparation: Ensure a quiet and comfortable environment with minimal distractions. Provide participants with clear instructions about the purpose of the KIMS and how their responses will be used. Emphasize confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administration: Distribute the KIMS questionnaire along with an answer sheet or clear instructions for marking responses.
- Completion: Allow sufficient time for participants to complete the questionnaire at their own pace. Typically, it takes around 10-15 minutes.
- Collection: Once everyone has finished, collect the completed questionnaires. Ensure anonymity or confidentiality according to your protocol.
Reliability and Validity
The KIMS has established itself as a reliable and valid tool for assessing mindfulness skills across various populations. Here’s a breakdown of its key strengths in these areas:
Internal consistency: Studies have shown strong internal consistency for the overall score and all four sub-scales, with Cronbach’s alpha typically exceeding 0.7, indicating good internal coherence within each domain.
Test-retest reliability: Scores demonstrate stability over time, with moderate to high correlations between test and retest administrations conducted weeks or months apart, supporting the consistency of its measurement.
Validity:
- Content validity: Experts acknowledge the items accurately represent the intended mindfulness skills of observing, describing, acting with awareness, and accepting without judgment.
- Convergent validity: KIMS scores correlate positively with other established mindfulness measures, supporting its ability to capture similar constructs.
- Discriminant validity: Scores show meaningful differences across groups expected to vary in mindfulness, such as individuals with mindfulness training compared to those without.
- Predictive validity: Studies demonstrate KIMS scores predict relevant outcomes like psychological well-being, emotion regulation, and stress reduction, suggesting its ability to identify individuals who might benefit from mindfulness interventions.
Available Versions
39-Items
Reference
Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., & Allen, K. B. (2004). Assessment of mindfulness by self-report: The Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills. Assessment, 11(3), 191-206.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KIMS?
A self-report questionnaire measuring your level of mindfulness in four key areas: observing, describing, acting with awareness, and accepting without judgment.
Who uses the KIMS?
Researchers, clinicians, and individuals interested in assessing or developing mindfulness skills.
How do I take the KIMS?
Complete the 39-item questionnaire by rating your agreement with statements about your mindfulness experiences.
Is the KIMS reliable and valid?
Yes, studies show strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity when compared to other mindfulness measures.
What are the benefits of using the KIMS?
Provides a snapshot of your overall mindfulness level and identifies areas for improvement. Can be used to track progress over time or evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions.
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