title: Examining the Factor Structure of the Self-Compassion Scale in Four Distinct Populations: Is the Use of a Total Scale Score Justified?
abstract: This study examined the factor structure of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) using a bifactor model, a higher order model, a 6-factor correlated model, a 2-factor correlated model, and a 1-factor model in 4 distinct populations: college undergraduates (N = 222), community adults (N = 1,394), individuals practicing Buddhist meditation (N = 215), and a clinical sample of individuals with a history of recurrent depression (N = 390). The 6-factor correlated model demonstrated the best fit across samples, whereas the 1- and 2-factor models had poor fit. The higher order model also showed relatively poor fit across samples, suggesting it is not representative of the relationship between subscale factors and a general self-compassion factor. The bifactor model, however, had acceptable fit in the student, community, and meditator samples. Although fit was suboptimal in the clinical sample, results suggested an overall self-compassion factor could still be interpreted with some confidence. Moreover, estimates suggested a general self-compassion factor accounted for at least 90% of the reliable variance in SCS scores across samples, and item factor loadings and intercepts were equivalent across samples. Results suggest that a total SCS score can be used as an overall mesure of self-compassion.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Educational Psychology , University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Kristin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Neff
authors.affiliation: a Department of Educational Psychology , University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Tiffany A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , University of Exeter , UK.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D004645:Empathy; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014495:Universities