Description: The Self-Compassion Scale is a 12-item (adult version) or 17-item (pediatric version) instrument the measures an individual's ability to be kind and understanding, instead of self-critical, to oneself during times of suffering or failure.
Pediatric self-report ages: 8-17 years
Adult self-report ages: 18+ years
The scale has 6 components:
- Self-Kindness - being patient and understanding of one's feelings and/or aspects of one's personality
- Adult - items 2, 6
- Pediatric - items 1, 9, 15
- Self-Judgment (reverse scored) - being critical of oneself, one's feelings, and/or aspects of one's personality
- Adult - items 11, 12
- Pediatric - items 3, 7, 12
- Common Humanity - understanding that one's feelings are experienced by others
- Adult - items 5, 10
- Pediatric - items 4, 8, 13
- Isolation (reversed scored) - feeling lonely in one's feelings or experiences
- Adult - items 4, 8
- Pediatric - items 2, 10, 16
- Mindfulness - maintaining a balanced view of one's feelings and experiences
- Adult - items 3, 7
- Pediatric - items 6, 11, 17
- Over-Identification (reverse scored) - becoming immersed in emotional reactions to the point where it becomes difficult to with view the situation objectively
- Adult - items 1, 9
- Pediatric - items 5, 14
More information about self-compassion scales can be found here.
Scoring: Higher mean score indicates more self-compassion.
Each item is rated 1 to 5.
Score ranges:
1.0 - 2.49: Low self-compassion
2.5-3.5: Moderate self-compassion
3.51-5.0: High self-compassion
Click below to view the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) versions.