Analysis

The Self-Compassion Scale is used to assess the extent to which an individual practices compassion toward themselves. Self-compassion refers to a person’s ability to be kind and supportive toward themselves in times of difficulty and failure, rather than being critical and harsh.

Objective

The main objective of the Self-Compassion Scale is to evaluate a person’s behavior toward themselves when facing failures, difficulties, or necessary change, and to examine the relationship of self-compassion with other psychological states such as self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

Scoring

The extended version typically includes 26 statements covering three basic dimensions of self-compassion: self-kindness, human connectedness, and mindfulness. Participants rate each statement on a Likert scale, usually from 1 (very rarely) to 5 (very often).

References

Neff, K. D. (2003). Self-Compassion: An Alternative to Self-Esteem. In: K. D. Neff (Ed.), Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself (pp. 27-50). William Morrow.
Neff, K. D. (2011). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. William Morrow.
Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength, and Thrive. The Guilford Press.
Raes, L., Pommier, E., Neff, K. D., & Van Gucht, D. (2011). Construction and Factorial Validation of a Short Form of the Self-Compassion Scale. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 18(3), 250-255.
Neff, K. D., & Vonk, R. (2009). Self-Compassion Versus Global Self-Esteem: Two Different Ways of Relating to Oneself. Journal of Personality, 77(1), 23-50.