Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) Test
How the Scales are Structured
Who Usually Takes This Test?
See How You Compare
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.
Example Questions From the Test
- Almost always
- Very often
- Somewhat often
- Somewhat rarely
- Very rarely
- Almost never
- Almost always
- Very often
- Fairly often
- Fairly rarely
- Very rarely
- Almost never
- Almost always
- Very often
- Somewhat often
- Somewhat rarely
- Very rarely
- Almost never
Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) Test - Description and methodology of the test
Readers who want a structured snapshot of their usual attentional style may find this questionnaire useful when distraction, rushing, or automatic habits seem to affect daily functioning. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) Test returns a single overall result, giving the respondent a starting point for deciding which situations deserve closer observation. This mindfulness assessment frames that result around a pattern of attention rather than a fixed personal label.
What This Assessment Explores
Questions focus on everyday lapses in awareness. The MAAS questionnaire covers delayed emotion recognition, unnoticed tension, rushing, divided listening, automatic actions, and attention drawn into past or future thoughts. It suits readers seeking a structured view of present-focused attention.
The item themes are not separate subscales; they show how the scale reflects present-focused attention, attentional self-regulation, and flexible awareness:
- Present focus shows whether awareness stays with current experience.
- Automaticity shows whether attentional self-regulation is active during routine actions.
- Internal noticing shows whether feelings and bodily signals enter awareness.
- Flexible awareness shows how attention shifts among thoughts, emotions, sensations, and activity.
Together, they form the Mindfulness scale, scored 0-6. The displayed bands are Low mindfulness (0-3.3), Moderate mindfulness (3.4-4.6), and High mindfulness (4.7-6). Higher results reflect more frequent awareness of ongoing experience and are associated with openness, reduced avoidance, resilience, and flexibility.
Methodology and Scientific Basis
Each statement describes a lapse in present-moment awareness, and the respondent selects one of six frequency options from almost always to almost never. Frequent endorsements indicate lower awareness, while infrequent endorsements indicate higher awareness; the online result then applies the displayed interpretation bands.
Self-report scoring treats mindfulness as attentional regulation and present-focused awareness. The published Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown & Ryan, 2003) is the source instrument, and this online questionnaire uses its complete 15-item structure and item content. Its status as an adaptation or independently validated version is not established. The questionnaire treats attention awareness as a habitual pattern rather than a fixed capacity.
Carlson and Brown (2005) examined MAAS validity in a cancer population, while Van Dam, Earleywine, and Borders (2010) used item response theory to study MAAS item functioning. These studies clarify construct and item behavior, but do not establish norms or standardization for this online version.
Because responses rely on self-report, mood, circumstances, memory, and self-awareness may affect them. Read the result as a reflection of current habits rather than a diagnosis.
- 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. 10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822
- Carlson, L. E., & Brown, K. W. (2005). Validation of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale in a cancer population. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 58(1), 29-33. 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.04.366
- Van Dam, N. T., Earleywine, M., & Borders, A. (2010). Measuring mindfulness? An item response theory analysis of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 49(7), 805-810. 10.1016/j.paid.2010.07.020
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