Examining the Self-Compassion Scale in 20 diverse samples: Support for use of a total score and six subscale scores

This study examined the factor structure of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) using\ud secondary data drawn from 20 samples (N = 11,685) — 7 English and 13 non-English —\ud including 10 community, 6 student, 1 mixed community/student, 1 meditator, and 2 clinical\ud samples. Self-compassion is theorized to represent a system with six constituent components -\ud self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness and reduced self-judgment, isolation and overidentification.\ud There has been controversy as to whether a total score on the SCS or if separate\ud scores representing compassionate versus uncompassionate self-responding should be used. The\ud current study examined the factor structure of the SCS using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA)\ud and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) to examine five distinct models: onefactor,\ud two-factor correlated, six-factor correlated, single-bifactor (one general self-compassion\ud factor and six group factors), and two-bifactor models (two correlated general factors each with\ud three group factors representing compassionate or uncompassionate self-responding). Results\ud indicated that a one- and two-factor solution to the SCS had inadequate fit in every sample\ud examined using both CFA and ESEM, whereas fit was excellent using ESEM for the six-factor\ud correlated, single-bifactor and correlated two-bifactor models. However, factor loadings for the\ud correlated two-bifactor models indicated that two separate factors were not well specified. A\ud general factor explained 95% of the reliable item variance in the single-bifactor model. Results\ud support use of the SCS to examine six subscale scores (representing the constituent components\ud of self-compassion) or a total score (representing overall self-compassion), but not separate\ud scores representing compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding.