Examining the factor structure of the self-compassion scale in four distinct populations: is the use of a total scale score justified?

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.This study examined the factor structure of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) using a bifactor model, a higher order model, a 6-factor correlated model, a 2-factor correlated model, and a 1-factor model in 4 distinct populations: college undergraduates (N = 222), community adults (N = 1,394), individuals practicing Buddhist meditation (N = 215), and a clinical sample of individuals with a history of recurrent depression (N = 390). The 6-factor correlated model demonstrated the best fit across samples, whereas the 1- and 2-factor models had poor fit. The higher order model also showed relatively poor fit across samples, suggesting it is not representative of the relationship between subscale factors and a general self-compassion factor. The bifactor model, however, had acceptable fit in the student, community, and meditator samples. Although fit was suboptimal in the clinical sample, results suggested an overall self-compassion factor could still be interpreted with some confidence. Moreover, estimates suggested a general self-compassion factor accounted for at least 90% of the reliable variance in SCS scores across samples, and item factor loadings and intercepts were equivalent across samples. Results suggest that a total SCS score can be used as an overall mesure of self-compassion.The clinical sample examined in this study was drawn from the PREVENT Trial, a project funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme (Project Number 08/56/01). This trial is reported in full in the Lancet (doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62222-4)