Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)
Brown & Ryan Dispositional Mindfulness Assessment
The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) was developed by Kirk Warren Brown and Richard M. Ryan and published in the _Journal of Personality and Social Psychology_ (2003). It is the most widely used self-report measure of dispositional mindfulness — a core characteristic of mindfulness defined as open or receptive awareness of and attention to what is taking place in the present.
The MAAS contains 15 items rated on a 6-point Likert scale (1=Almost Always to 6=Almost Never). All items describe mindless or automatic states; higher scores indicate greater mindfulness. The scale has demonstrated strong psychometric properties: Cronbach's α = .80-.90 in college and community samples, good test-retest reliability, and convergent/discriminant validity across multiple studies.
Scoring: Calculate the mean of all 15 items (no reverse scoring needed — all items are already worded as mindlessness). The mean score ranges from 1 to 6, with higher scores reflecting higher dispositional mindfulness. Population norms: Mean ≈ 3.7-3.8 (SD ≈ 0.7) in college samples.
Disclaimer: This assessment is for educational and screening purposes only. It does not constitute a clinical diagnosis. Mindfulness is a trainable skill — scores can improve with practice (e.g., MBSR, meditation, mindful breathing exercises).
Scoring Guide
The MAAS is scored by calculating the mean of all 15 items. All items are worded to reflect mindlessness/lapses in attention, so no reverse scoring is needed — the response values (1-6) are used as-is. Higher mean scores indicate higher levels of dispositional mindfulness.
• Score 1.0-2.5: Low mindfulness
• Score 2.6-3.9: Moderate mindfulness
• Score 4.0-4.5: Above average mindfulness
• Score 4.6-6.0: High mindfulness
Reference: Brown, K.W. & Ryan, R.M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822-848.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 15 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed instantly on screen. No account, email, or login required.