Validation of the Interpersonal Mindfulness Questionnaire (IMQ) in a Chinese Context: Preliminary Evidence for Cross-Cultural Measurement Invariance

The Interpersonal Mindfulness Questionnaire (IMQ), based on embodiment theory and interpersonal mindfulness, was developed in Canadian populations but had not been examined in Eastern contexts. This study aimed to validate a Chinese version and assess the cross-cultural measurement invariance between the Chinese and Canadian samples. In Study 1, we translated the IMQ into Chinese, examined its factor structure, and assessed internal validity in a sample of Chinese adults (N = 291). In Study 2, we tested the IMQ’s reliability and validity in another Chinese sample (N = 380). We then used multi-group confirmatory factor analysis to assess measurement invariance between the Chinese (N = 380) and Canadian (N = 1077) samples. The Chinese IMQ replicated the original four-factor structure, showing acceptable reliability and validity, except for the Mindful Responding factor. Configural and metric invariance were supported. However, the Chinese sample showed lower intercepts on most factors, higher intercepts on Body-Anchored Presence, larger residual variances on most items, and different factor covariances. The Chinese IMQ generally replicated the original four-factor structure with generally acceptable psychometric properties. Nonetheless, limited cross-cultural equivalence was observed in terms of its intercepts, residuals, and factor covariances.