Answer this question to the best of your ability:
How were the participants' levels of mindfulness and psychological distress measured in this study?
In this research, two specific measurement tools were used to assess the levels of mindfulness and psychological distress among the participants. For measuring mindfulness, the researchers employed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), which is a 15-item inventory that measures an individual's dispositional mindfulness. The MAAS uses a 6-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater mindfulness. To evaluate psychological distress, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) were used. This instrument comprises 42 items and assesses participants' experiences of depression, anxiety, and stress over the past week. Similar to the MAAS, the DASS also uses a 6-point Likert scale, with higher scores reflecting greater severity of symptoms in each domain. These questionnaires provided the researchers with comprehensive insights into the relationship between mindfulness and psychological distress within this particular context.