Psychometric Properties of the Self-Compassion Scale in the Polish Population

• Authors: Paweł Holas , Yuliana Shevchuk , Tomasz Jankowski

Abstracts

EN

The purpose of the present study was to adapt the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003) into Polish, to examine its validity and reliability, and to determine population norms for this tool. The study involved 604 adults (aged 18–85 years, 278 women and 326 men), constituting a representative sample of the Polish population in terms of gender, age, and place of residence. The adaptation procedure was carried out according to the rules of translation, demonstrating the fidelity of the translation of the original version of the questionnaire. The reliability of the measurement was tested using Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency method and test–retest method. The validity was assessed by analyzing correlation coefficients between SCS scores and the intensity of mindfulness (understood as a trait), resilience, empathic sensitivity with its subscales of perspective taking, personal distress and emphatic concern, and the level of depression and anxiety. Measurement stability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients applied to two consecutive measurements. The factor structure was verified using confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed that the SCS in the Polish version has good psychometric properties, and the emerged factor structure indicates that the best fit and specification had a model with two general factors of CS (compassionate self-responding) and RUS (reduced uncompassionate self-responding) and three specific factors: self-kindness, shared humanity, and mindfulness.

Keywords

EN

self-compassion; mindfulness; self-compassion scale; self-kindness; shared humanity

• Publisher: Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II. Towarzystwo Naukowe KUL
• Journal: Roczniki Psychologiczne
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 135-157

Dates

published

2023

Contributors

author

Paweł Holas

• University of Warsaw

• https://orcid.org/0000000242103396

author

Yuliana Shevchuk

• Poddasze Myśli, Warsaw

• https://orcid.org/0000000281372097

author

Tomasz Jankowski

• John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin

• https://orcid.org/0000000250145721

References

• Barnard, L. K., & Curry, J. F. (2011). Self-compassion: Conceptualizations, correlates, & interventions. Review of General Psychology, 15(4), 289–303. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025754
• Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 822–848. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822
• Buxton, A. E., Hofheinz, C., Remmers, C., & Michalak, J. (2023). When depressed-be mindful of and kind to yourself: Self-compassion as mediator of change in a mindful depression treatment. Psychotherapy Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2179439
• Costa, J., Marôco, J., Pinto‐Gouveia, J., Ferreira, C., & Castilho, P. (2016). Validation of the psychometric properties of the Self‐Compassion Scale. Testing the factorial validity and factorial invariance of the measure among borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorder, eating disorder and general populations. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 23(5), 460-468
• Davis, M. H. (1980). A multidimensional approach to individual differences in empathy. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 10, 85.
• Davis, M. H. (1983). Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for an multidimensional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44(1), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.44.1.113
• Everitt, B. S. (1975). Multivariate analysis: The need for data, and other problems. British Journal of Psychiatry, 126, 237–240. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.126.3.237
• Fuochi, G., Veneziani, C. A., & Voci, A. (2018). Exploring the social side of self-compassion: Relations with empathy and outgroup attitudes. European Journal of Social Psychology, 48(6), 769–783. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2378
• Gilbert, P., McEwan, K., Matos, M., & Rivis, A. (2011). Fears of compassion: Development of three self-report measures. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 84, 239–255. http://doi.org/10.1348/147608310X526511
• Gu, J., Baer, R., Cavanagh, K., Kuyken, W., & Strauss, C. (2020). Development and psychometric properties of the Sussex-Oxford compassion scales (SOCS). Assessment, 27(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191119860911
• Hair, J. F., Jr., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1995). Multivariate data analysis (4th ed.). Prentice Hall.
• Hoffmann, S. G., Grossman, P., & Hinton, D. E. (2011). Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: Potential for psychological intervention. Clinical Psychology Review, 13, 1126–1132.
• Holas, P., Kowalczyk, M., Krejtz, I., Wisiecka, K., & Jankowski, T. (2021). The relationship between self-esteem and self-compassion in socially anxious. Current Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02305-2
• Holas, P., Schevczuk, J., Rusanowska, M., Krejtz, I., Nezlek, J., & Jankowski, T. (2023). The Polish adaptation of the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form. Manuscript submitted for publication.
• Holas, P., Wardeszkiewicz, J., & Andersson, G. (2023). Examining predictors of treatment response and mediators of change in a modified Internet-based, MBCT intervention for distressed community sample. Manuscript in preparation.
• Inam, A., Fatima, H., Naeem, H., Mujeb, H., Khatoon, R., Wahajat, T., Andrei, L. C., Starčević, S. & Sher, F. (2021). Self-compassion and empathy as predictors of happiness among late adolescents. Social Sciences, 10(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10100380
• Kaźmierczak, M., Plopa, M., & Retowski, S. (2007). Skala wrażliwości empatycznej [Empathic sensitivity scale]. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 50(1), 9–24.
• Kirby, J. N., Tellegen, C. L., & Steindl, S. R. (2017). A meta-analysis of compassion-based interventions: Current state of knowledge and future directions. Behavior Therapy, 48(6), 778–792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2017.06.003
• Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606–613. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x
• Levis, B., Benedetti, A., Thombs, B. D., (2019). Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ, 365, Article l1476. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1476
• López, A., Sanderman, R., Ranchor, A. V., & Schroevers, M. J. (2018). Compassion for others and self-compassion: Levels, correlates, and relationship with psychological well-being. Mindfulness, 9(1), 325–331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0777-z
• López, A., Sanderman, R., Smink, A., Zhang, Y., Van Sonderen, E., Ranchor, A., & Schroevers, M. J. (2015). A reconsideration of the Self-Compassion Scale’s total score: Self-compassion versus self-criticism. PloS one, 10(7), Article e0132940.
• Marsh, I. C., Chan, S. W., & MacBeth, A. (2018). Self-compassion and psychological distress in adolescents-a meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 9(4), 1011–1027. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0850-7
• Marsh, H. W., Morin, A. J. S., Parker, P. D., & Kaur, G. (2014). Exploratory structural equation modeling: An integration of the best features of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 10, 85–110. http://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032813-153700
• Montero-Marín, J., Gaete, J., Demarzo, M., Rodero, B., Lopez, L. C. S., & García-Campayo, J. (2016). Self-criticism: A measure of uncompassionate behaviors toward the self, based on the negative components of the self-compassion scale. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, Article 1281. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01281
• Muris, P., & Otgaar, H. (2020). The process of science: A critical evaluation of more than 15 years of research on self-compassion with the Self-Compassion Scale. Mindfulness, 11(6), 1469–1482. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01363-0
• Neff, K. (2004). Self-compassion and psychological well-being. Constructivism in the human sciences, 9(2), 27–37.
• Neff, K. D. (2003a). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032
• Neff, K. D. (2003b). Development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309027
• Neff, K. D., Hseih, Y., Dejitthirat, K. (2005). Self-compassion, achievement goals, and coping with academic failure. Self and Identity, 4(3), 263–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/13576500444000317
• Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the mindful self-compassion program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(1), 28–44. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21923
• Neff, K. D., Kirkpatrick, K., & Rude, S. S. (2007). Self-compassion and its link to adaptive psychological functioning. Journal of Research in Personality, 41(1), 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2006.03.004
• 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). The forest and the trees: Examining the association of self-compassion and its positive and negative components with psychological functioning. Self and Identity, 17(6), 627–645. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2018.1436587
• Neff, K. D., Pisitsungkagarn, K., & Hsieh, Y. (2008). Self-compassion and self-construal in the United States, Thailand, and Taiwan. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 39(3), 267–285. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022108314544
• Neff, K. D., & Pommier, E. (2013). The relationship between self-compassion and other-focused concern among college undergraduates, community adults, and practicing meditators. Self and Identity, 12(2), 160–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2011.649546
• 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. (2019). Examining the factor structure of the Self-Compassion Scale in 20 diverse samples: Support for use of a total score and six subscale scores. Psychological Assessment, 31(1), 27–45. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000629
• Pauley, G. & McPherson, S. (2010). The experience and meaning of compassion and self-compassion for individuals with depression or anxiety. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 83(2), 129–143. https://doi.org/10.1348/147608309X471000
• Rutter, L. A., & Brown, T. A. (2017). Psychometric properties of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) in a sample of outpatients with anxiety and mood disorders. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 39(1), 140–146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-016-9571-9
• de Souza, L. K., Policarpo, D., & Hutz, C. S. (2020). Self-compassion and symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. Trends in Psychology, 28, 85–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-020-00018-2
• Smith, B. W., Dalen, J., Wiggins, K., Tooley, E., Christopher, P., & Bernard, J. (2008). The brief resilience scale: Assessing the ability to bounce back. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 15(3), 194–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705500802222972
• Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder the GAD-7. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(10), 1092–1097. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092
• Strauss, C., Taylor, B. L., Gu, J., Kuyken, W., Baer, R., Jones, F., & Cavanagh, K. (2016). What is compassion and how can we measure it? A review of definitions and measures. Clinical Psychology Review, 47, 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.05.004
• Van Dam, N. T., Sheppards, S. C., Forsyth, J. P., & Earleywine, M. (2011). Self-compassion is a better predictor than mindfulness of symptom severity and quality of life in mixed anxiety and depression. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25(1), 123–130. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.08.011
• Wang, Y. A., & Rhemtulla, M. (2021). Power analysis for parameter estimation in structural equation modeling: A discussion and tutorial. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 4(1), Article 2515245920918253. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245920918253
• Welp, L. R. & Brown, C. M. (2013). Self-compassion, empathy, and helping intentions. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(1), 54–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.831465
• Wilson, A. C., Mackintosh, K., Power, K., & Chan, S. W. Y. (2019). Effectiveness of self-compassion related therapies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 10(6), 979–995. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-018-1037-6
• Zawadzki, B., & Hornowska, E. (2008). Psychometria. Konstrukcja i adaptacja testów psychologicznych [Psychometrics. Design and adaptation of psychological tests]. In J. Strelau & D. Doliński (Eds.), Psychologia (Vol. 1, pp. 847–891). GWP.
• Zessin, U., Dickhauser, O., & Garbade, S. (2015). The relationship between self-compassion and well-being: A meta-analysis. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 7(3), 340–364. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12051

Identifiers

DOI

10.18290/rpsych2023.0009

Biblioteka Nauki

31341027