Measuring the wandering mind: Polish psychometric adaptation of mind-wandering scales and their links to cognitive control

This study presents the Polish psychometric adaptation and validation of three widely used scales measuring mind-wandering: the Mind-Wandering Questionnaire, and the Deliberate (MW-D) and Spontaneous (MW-S) Mind-Wandering Scales. Two studies were conducted to confirm the scales' factorial structures, internal consistency, and convergent validity. Study 1 (N = 311) confirmed the two-factor structure of the MW-S and MW-D scales, demonstrating good internal consistency. MW-S but not MW-D correlated with age, showing that younger participants reported more frequent unintentional episodes. Significant associations were found between mind-wandering and cognitive failures, especially for MW-D, indicating greater demands on executive functions when intentionally disengaging from tasks. Study 2 (N = 220) further validated these scales and tested their relationships with memory failures, attentional lapses, and self-control. MW-S was closely related to deficits in attentional control and negative off-task thoughts, whereas MW-D correlated primarily with positive off-task thoughts and was less related to cognitive errors. These findings are consistent with the view that MW-S and MW-D have partly distinct cognitive and emotional correlates. Overall, the Polish adaptations demonstrate robust psychometric properties, providing reliable tools for investigating individual differences in mind-wandering and their implications for cognitive control and emotional regulation.