Evaluating the Multifactor Structure of the Long and Short Versions of the Self-Compassion Scale in a Clinical Sample

Paula Castilho, José Pinto-Gouveia, Joana Duarte

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: There has been a growing interest in the concept of self-compassion in Eastern psychology. The aim of the present study was to explore the dimensionality of the widely used Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; long and short versions) in both clinical and nonclinical samples Method: Several confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were computed in a mixed clinical (n = 316) and a nonclinical sample (n = 1128) from the Portuguese population. Also, differences were tested between the groups in the SCS 6 factors. Results: The CFA supported both a 6-factor model and a hierarchical model in both samples. The SCS also showed good psychometric properties, with good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity. Our study further suggests that individuals with several psychopathological disorders showed significantly lower self-compassionate abilities. Conclusions: The SCS (long and short versions) is thus a reliable instrument to assess self-compassion and is useful for research and, in particular, clinical practice.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)856-870
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Clinical Psychology
Volume71
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Sept 1
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., a Wiley Company.

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Psychology

Free keywords

  • Clinical sample
  • Confirmatory factor analysis
  • Psychometric properties
  • Self-Compassion Scale

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