Fears of Compassion Scales (FOCS-13)

Introduction

The Fears of Compassion Scales (FOCS-13) is a self-report psychometric instrument designed to assess fears and psychological barriers associated with compassion. The scale examines concerns related to giving compassion to oneself, expressing compassion toward others, and accepting compassion from other people. It is based on the theoretical framework of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and is widely used in clinical psychology and mental health research to understand emotional defenses that may interfere with compassion, self-kindness, and interpersonal connection.

Description

The FOCS-13 evaluates three major dimensions of fear of compassion:

  • Fear of Compassion for Self: Difficulties in accepting self-kindness, self-care, or feelings of warmth toward oneself.
  • Fear of Compassion for Others: Concerns or discomfort related to expressing compassion and care toward other people.
  • Fear of Receiving Compassion from Others: Difficulties accepting kindness, support, or understanding from others.

The scale explores beliefs and emotional responses that may prevent individuals from experiencing compassion as safe, valuable, or beneficial.

Purpose

The FOCS-13 is designed to:

  • Assess barriers to compassion and self-compassion.
  • Identify beliefs that limit emotional openness and acceptance.
  • Examine difficulties in receiving support from others.
  • Support therapeutic assessment and intervention planning.
  • Investigate the relationship between compassion, psychological well-being, and mental health.

Administration

The questionnaire is self-administered and can be completed in clinical, research, and therapeutic settings. It is suitable for adolescents and adults and requires only a short time to complete.

Participants respond to statements regarding their feelings and attitudes toward compassion using a Likert-type response format.

Scoring

Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, typically ranging from:

1 = Not at all
to
5 = Very much

Scores are calculated for each dimension, including fear of compassion toward oneself, fear of compassion toward others, and fear of receiving compassion. Higher scores indicate greater fear and resistance toward compassion-related experiences.

Interpretation

Higher FOCS-13 scores indicate stronger psychological barriers to compassion, which may be associated with difficulties in emotional regulation, self-acceptance, interpersonal trust, and psychological flexibility.

Individuals with elevated scores may experience discomfort when receiving kindness, difficulty treating themselves with care, or concerns about vulnerability and emotional closeness.

Lower scores suggest greater openness to compassion, self-compassion, and supportive interpersonal relationships.

Statistical Analysis

Psychometric evaluation of the FOCS-13 commonly includes:

  • Descriptive statistics.
  • Internal consistency analysis (Cronbach’s alpha).
  • Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (EFA/CFA).
  • Test–retest reliability.
  • Convergent and discriminant validity.
  • Correlation and regression analyses.
  • Mediation and moderation models.
  • Group comparisons (t-test, ANOVA, MANOVA).

These analyses help evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale across clinical and non-clinical populations.

Applications

The FOCS-13 is widely used in:

  • Clinical psychology.
  • Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).
  • Mental health research.
  • Self-compassion studies.
  • Emotion regulation research.
  • Anxiety and depression research.
  • Psychotherapy outcome studies.

Advantages

  • Based on a strong theoretical model of compassion and psychological functioning.
  • Assesses multiple dimensions of compassion-related difficulties.
  • Brief and easy to administer.
  • Useful in both clinical and research settings.
  • Helps identify barriers that may affect therapeutic progress.

Limitations

As a self-report instrument, the FOCS-13 may be influenced by social desirability, self-awareness, and cultural attitudes toward compassion and emotional expression. It does not diagnose psychological disorders but provides information about compassion-related beliefs and emotional processes.

References

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(3), 239–255.

Kirby, J. N., Day, J., & Sagar, V. (2019). The “Fears of Compassion” scales: A comprehensive review and psychometric analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 75(2), 313–330.