Analysis and Purpose of the Scale

The Self-Compassion Scale was developed by Kristin Neff in 2003 and is a psychometric tool that measures self-compassion. The primary purpose of this scale is to assess the level of self-compassion that characterizes individuals. Kristin Neff argued that self-compassion is just as important as compassion toward others and that it is related to self-esteem and mental health.

Question Calibration

The Self-Compassion Scale consists of 26 items that assess overall self-compassion. It evaluates self-compassion through three positive components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness, as well as through three negative components: self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification. Through these 26 items, respondents’ perceptions of their actions toward themselves during difficult times are measured. Answers are given on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (Almost never) to 5 (Almost always), depending on the frequency of each behavior.

Statistical Analysis

With respect to the statistical analysis of the scale, an overall score is obtained that reflects self-compassion, derived from the positive elements, and a self-criticism score, derived from the negative elements. High levels of self-compassion are associated with psychological well-being, though this does not imply the presence of narcissistic tendencies.

Validity and Reliability

The Self-Compassion Scale has been standardized in the Greek population by Mantzios, Wilson, & Giannou (2014) and has been shown to be a satisfactory, valid, and reliable tool for measuring self-compassion. Furthermore, the scale was translated and standardized in the Greek population by Karakasidou, Pezirkianidis, Galanakis, & Stalikas (2017). Internal consistency is good for both the positive elements (α = 0.86) and the negative elements (α = 0.86).

References

Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250.
Greek Adaptation: Karakasidou, E., Pezirkianidis, C., Galanakis, M., & Stalikas, A.