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Examining the Factor Structure of the Self-Compassion Scale in 20 Diverse Samples: Support for Use of a Total Score and Six Subscale Scores
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This study examined the factor structure of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) using secondary data drawn from 20 samples (N = 11,685)-7 English and 13 non-English-including 10 community, 6 student, 1 mixed community/student, 1 meditator, and 2 clinical samples. Self-compassion is theorized to represent a system with 6 constituent components: self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness and reduced self-judgment, isolation and overidentification. There has been controversy as to whether a total score on the SCS or if separate scores representing compassionate versus uncompassionate self-responding should be used. The current study examined the factor structure of the SCS using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) to examine 5 distinct models: 1-factor, 2-factor correlated, 6-factor correlated, single-bifactor (1 general self-compassion factor and 6 group factors), and 2-bifactor models (2 correlated general factors each with 3 group factors representing compassionate or uncompassionate self-responding). Results indicated that a 1- and 2-factor solution to the SCS had inadequate fit in every sample examined using both CFA and ESEM, whereas fit was excellent using ESEM for the 6-factor correlated, single-bifactor and correlated 2-bifactor models. However, factor loadings for the correlated 2-bifactor models indicated that 2 separate factors were not well specified. A general factor explained 95% of the reliable item variance in the single-bifactor model. Results support use of the SCS to examine 6 subscale scores (representing the constituent components of self-compassion) or a total score (representing overall self-compassion), but not separate scores representing compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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“Yet, it is possible that it is related to positive reframing of negative events; indeed, it is associated with adaptive coping [77,78] and emotional stability [79] and it contributes to predicting health and well-being also in chronic illness contexts [80,81].”
From The Role of Emotion-Related Abilities in the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [79]
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The Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Self-Compassion
NEFF, K. D. (2003) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298860309027 · Cited by 6,436 · cited 11×
“The SCS (Neff, 2003a) is a 26-item self-report questionnaire measuring the six components of self-compassion: Self-Kindness (5 items; e.g., “I try to be loving towards myself when I’m feeling emotional pain”), reduced Self-Judgment (5 items; e.g., “I’m disapproving and judgmental about my own flaws…”
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NEFF, K. (2003) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298860309032 · Cited by 5,440
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Asparouhov, T., & Muthén, B. (2009) · Structural Equation Modeling A Multidisciplinary Journal · doi:10.1080/10705510903008204 · Cited by 2,701
A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the mindful self-compassion program
Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.21923 · Cited by 2,253
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Self-compassion: Theory, method, research, and intervention
Neff, K. D. (2023) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-032420-031047 · Cited by 931
The Development and Validation of the Compassion Scale
Pommier, E., Neff, K. D., & Tóth-Király, I. (2020) · Assessment · doi:10.1177/1073191119874108 · Cited by 345
The Development and Validation of the State Self-Compassion Scale (Long- and Short Form)
Neff, K. D., Tóth-Király, I., Knox, M. C., Kuchar, A., & Davidson, O. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01505-4 · Cited by 309
Self-Compassion and Coping: a Meta-Analysis
Ewert, C., Vater, A., & Schröder-Abé, M. (2021) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01563-8 · Cited by 270
Neff, K. D., Long, P., Knox, M. C., Davidson, O., Kuchar, A., Costigan, A., Williamson, Z., Rohleder, N., Tóth-Király, I., & Breines, J. G. (2018) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2018.1436587 · Cited by 234
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Metadata
- Authors
- Neff, K. D., Tóth-Király, I., Yarnell, L. M., Arimitsu, K., Castilho, P., Ghorbani, N., Guo, H. X., Hirsch, J. K., Hupfeld, J., Hutz, C. S., Kotsou, I., Lee, W. K., Montero-Marin, J., Sirois, F. M., de Souza, L. K., Svendsen, J. L., Wilkinson, R. B., & Mantzios, M.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- American Institutes for Research (US)
- Kwansei Gakuin University (JP)
- University of Coimbra (PT)
- University of Tehran (IR)
- East Tennessee State University (US)
- University of Bern (CH)
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR)
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE)
- Seoul Cyber University (KR)
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
- Birmingham City University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Neff, Kristin D.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychological Assessment
- Published
- 2019-01
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 27-45
- ISSN
- 1040-3590 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-134X
- OpenAlex
- W2888066044
- Cited by
- 397
- References
- 114
- Citations by year
- 2026: 46 · 2025: 62 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 33
- FWCI
- 35.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Psychological Assessment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BCU Open Access Repository (Birmingham City University) (acceptedVersion)
- Digital Commons - East Tennessee State University (East Tennessee State University) (submittedVersion)
- Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) (submittedVersion)
- Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) (submittedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Lume (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul) (submittedVersion)
- NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (08/56/01)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- self-compassion, Self-Compassion Scale, factor structure, bifactor model, self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, isolation, over-identification, subscale scores, full score
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Empathy, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Self Concept, Young Adult
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