Psychometric properties of the brief three-factor mind wandering Scale in peruvian university students

Mamani C.A.S.; Chura-Quispe G.; Estrada-Araoz E.G.; Coronado G.R.V.; Valencia J.V.V.; Deroncele-Acosta Á. · Gaceta Medica de Caracas (2026) · DOI: 10.47307/gmc.2026.134.2.3

Resumen

Introduction: Mind wandering is a frequent cognitive phenomenon associated with attentional and executive control difficulties that negatively affect academic performance. However, in the Peruvian context, its assessment is limited by the scarcity of culturally adapted psychometric instruments. Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of the Brief Three-Factor Mind Wandering Scale (BMW-3) in Peruvian higher-education students. Methods: A quantitative instrumental study with a cross-sectional design was conducted. A total of 303 students from a Higher Technical School in Tacna participated, selected using non-probabilistic sampling with a census approximation. Evidence of content validity was assessed by expert judgement, using Aiken’s V coefficient; evidence of structural validity was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis; and internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients. Results: The expert evaluation showed optimal evidence of content validity values for all items (Aiken’s V = 1.00). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the original three-factor structure of 12 items, with adequate incremental fit indices (CFI = 0.993; TLI/NNFI = 0.991), acceptable RMSEA (0.080), and acceptable SRMR (0.059). Overall reliability was high (α = 0.901; ω = 0.905). At the dimensional level, the unintentional and intentional mind-wandering subscales showed satisfactory consistency, whereas metaconsciousness showed moderate consistency, consistent with its brief nature. Conclusions: The Brief Three-Factor Mind Wandering Scale (BMW-3) demonstrates adequate psychometric properties for use among Peruvian higher-education students and constitutes a valid and reliable tool for assessing mind wandering in educational contexts.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de Dios; Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola; Universidad Privada de Tacna; Escuela de Posgrado Newman