Adaptation of the Self-Compassion Scale for use in Brazil: Evidences of construct validity

Abstract

This study reports evidences of adaptation, construct validation, and reliability of the Self-Compassion Scale for use in Brazil. Self-compassion is a positive healthy attitude towards the self when facing suffering and diffi culties. It encompasses self-kindness instead of self-judgment, mindfulness instead of over-identifi cation, and common humanity instead of social isolation. A confi rmatory factor analysis endorsed the six-factor structure (six subscales) of the original scale; adequate polychoric correlations were identifi ed among subscales; a higher-order factor was confi rmed via hierarchical model analysis; and internal consistency was .92. The scale is ready for application on Brazilian samples in continuing validation studies, for example, with available measures of social desirability, self-esteem, depression, and anxiety, as well as with similar constructs, such as self-acceptance, mindfulness, emotional selfregulation, and self-judgment.