Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)

The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) is a reliable and valid 26-item questionnaire that assesses self-compassion, i.e. how we treat ourselves during difficult times. For individual items, respondents use a five-point Likert scale to rate how often they behave in a given way. The SCS contains 6 intercorrelated subscales that are in opposition to each other as follows: Self-Kindness versus Self-Condemnation, Human Belonging versus Isolation, Mindfulness versus Overidentification. The intercorrelations between the factors can be explained by the presence of a common higher-order factor – self-compassion.

Length of filling

Filling out the entire questionnaire will take approximately 5 minutes.

Individualized feedback for the respondent

By evaluating the questionnaire, the respondent finds out how sensitively he behaves towards himself and how high or low his level of self-compassion is.

Keywords

Self-Compassion Scale, SCS, compassion, self-compassion, self-compassion, self-kindness, self-condemnation, human belonging, isolation, mindfulness, overidentification

Scoring and interpretation

The total level of self-compassion is expressed by the sum of the average results in the individual subscales. But first, it is necessary to reverse the coding for the items of the negative subscales (i.e. for the subscales of self-condemnation, isolation and over-identification). Thus, a higher mean score indicates a higher level of self-compassion. Self Kindness - Items: 5, 12, 19, 23, 26 Self-condemnation - items: 1, 8, 11, 16, 21 Human Belonging - Items: 3, 7, 10, 15 Insulation - items: 4, 13, 18, 25 Mindfulness - items: 9, 14, 17, 22 Overidentification - items: 2, 6, 20, 24

Response scale

Subjects respond on five-point Likert scales ranging from “Almost never” (1) to “Almost always” (5).

References

Benda, J. (2018). Alternative models of the Czech version of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-26- CZ). [online]. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325908787_Alternative_models_of_the_Czech_version_of_the_Self-Compassion_Scale_SCS-26-CZ

Benda, J., & Reichová, A. (2016). Psychometrické charakteristiky české verze Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-CZ). Československá psychologie, 60(2), 120-136. https://www.jan-benda.com/downloads/benda_reichova2016.pdf

Instruments for Researchers. (2023). SELF-COMPASSION, Kristin Neff. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://self-compassion.org/self-compassion-scales-for-researchers/

Neff, K. D. (2003). The 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. (in press). Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention. Annual Review of Psychology. 74, 193-218. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-032420-031047

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