Colombian Adaptation of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)

Background: Self-Compassion is crucial for assessing how people relate to their suffering in moments of personal difficulty. The objective of this study was to check the psychometric properties of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) in a Colombian sample. Method: The Spanish version of the SCS was adapted to the Colombian context via a content validity technique. This version was administered to 751 Colombians from the general community. Psychometric analysis was performed using R studio packages. Results: 7 models were tested, the best fit was found for the bifactor ESEM model (chi(2)/df = 0.86, CFI = 1, TLI= 1, RMSEA= 0.00, SRMR= 0.01). This model produced optimal reliability indices (omega h = 0.83, FD= 0.93, H= 0.96). Conclusions: The study produced initial psychometric evidence of the structure of the SCS in Colombia, with evidence of a general factor in the bifactor ESEM model. More research is needed to justify the complete usage of the SCS in the country.