A Deep Dive Into Compassion
Italian Validation, Network Analysis, and Correlates of Recent Compassion Scales
Abstract
Abstract: The present multi-sample study (N = 723) explores in depth the construct of dispositional compassion and its assessment, relying on two recent multidimensional scales: the Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scale – toward Others (SOCS-O; Gu et al., 2020) and the Compassion Scale (CS; Pommier et al., 2020). First, we validated the two scales in Italian, finding substantial support for their original factor structures and second-order solutions aggregating first-order factors into a general dispositional compassion factor. Second, we tested the simultaneous links between SOCS-O and CS facets via network analysis to identify which facets stand at the core of dispositional compassion or are more distal. Kindness (CS) and Feeling (SOCS-O) facets were more central components of compassion, leaning on the ability to tune in to (CS Mindfulness) and understand others’ pain (SOCS-O Universality) and connected to the urge to alleviate that pain (SOCS-O Acting). Third, we explored the nomological net of correlates of dispositional compassion and examined the differences between the SOCS-O and the CS in their relationship with the correlates. Results supported the convergent and discriminant validity of the scales and showed that the SOCS-O, compared to the CS, may capture some emotionally aversive sides of compassion.
References
2006). A contribution to the Italian validation of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 13(2), 107–125.
(2010). An Italian adaptation of the emotion regulation questionnaire. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 26(1), 61–67. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000009
(2016). Development and validation of a Brief Version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale: The DERS-16. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 38, 284–296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-015-9514-x
(2011). Measuring social desirability responding. A short version of Paulhus’ BIDR 6. Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 18(2), 117–135. https://doi.org/10.4473/TPM.18.2.4
(2011). Psychometric properties of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in depressed adults and development of a short form. Assessment, 18(3), 308–320. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191111408231
(2019). Quiet ego and noisy ego: A useful distinction in the investigation of individual well-being and intergroup relations. TPM – Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 26(3), 347–362. https://doi.org/10.4473/TPM26.3.2
(2004). Psychological entitlement: Interpersonal consequences and validation of a self-report measure. Journal of Personality Assessment, 83(1), 29–45. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa8301_04
(2013). Social connectedness as resource of resilience: Italian validation of the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised. Journal of Psychopathology, 19, 320–326.
(2005). A new scale for measuring adults’ prosocialness. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 21(2), 77–89. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.21.2.77
(2001). Improper solutions in structural equation models: Causes, consequences, and strategies. Sociological Methods & Research, 29(4), 468–508. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124101029004003
(1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 386–396. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136404
(1992). A first course in factor analysis (2nd ed.). Erlbaum.
(2008). Creating and undermining social support in communal relationships: The role of compassionate and self-image goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(3), 555–575. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.95.3.555
(1983). Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44(1), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.44.1.113
(2015). cocor: A comprehensive solution for the statistical comparison of correlations. PLoS One, 10(1), Article
(e0121945 . https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.01314991998). Integrating cognitive and motivational factors in depression: Initial tests of a goal-orientation approach. Journal of Personality and Social psychology, 74(1), 139–158. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.1.139
(2018). A tutorial on regularized partial correlation networks. Psychological Methods, 23(4), 617–634. https://doi.org/10.1037/met0000167
(2018). Estimating psychological networks and their accuracy: A tutorial paper. Behavior Research Methods, 50(1), 195–212. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-017-0862-1
(1994).
(Assessing adult attachment . In M. B. SperlingW. H. BermanEds., Attachment in adults: Clinical and developmental perspectives (pp. 128–152). Guilford Press.2004). An empirical evaluation of alternative methods of estimation for confirmatory factor analysis with ordinal data. Psychological Methods, 9(4), 466–491. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.9.4.466
(2003). On the dimensionality of the Attachment Style Questionnaire in Italian clinical and nonclinical participants. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 20(1), 55–79. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075030201003
(2011). Fears of compassion: Development of three self‐report measures. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 84(3), 239–255. https://doi.org/10.1348/147608310X526511
(2014). The Italian Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire: A contribution to its validity and reliability. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 36(3), 415–423.
(2012). Cultural adaptation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale: Reliability and validity of an Italian version. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68(9), 989–1007. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21876
(2010). Compassion: An evolutionary analysis and empirical review. Psychological Bulletin, 136(3), 351–374. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018807
(2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(2), 348–362. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348
(2020). Development and psychometric properties of the Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS). Assessment, 27(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191119860911
(2003). A Monte Carlo evaluation of tests for comparing dependent correlations. The Journal of General Psychology, 130(2), 149–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221300309601282
(2008). Network “small-world-ness”: A quantitative method for determining canonical network equivalence. PLoS One, 3(4), Article
(e0002051 . https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.00020512014). A randomized controlled trial of compassion cultivation training: Effects on mindfulness, affect, and emotion regulation. Motivation and Emotion, 38(1), 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-013-9368-z
(2001). Social connectedness, dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors, and psychological distress: Testing a mediator model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48(3), 310–318. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.48.3.310
(2022). Data, syntax, and codebook for “A deep dive into compassion: Italian validation, network analysis, and correlates of recent compassion scales.” https://osf.io/94abk/?%20972%20view_only=a7633a7fea8d497ba637e58542fe2b7c
(2021). Who’s afraid of compassion? The mediation of fears of compassion in the relationships among insecure attachment, entitlement, and social psychological outcomes (Unpublished manuscript). University of Padova.
(2015). Package “sjPlot”. CRAN-R project. https://github.com/strengejacke/sjPlot
(2005). Attachment security, compassion, and altruism. Current directions in psychological science, 14(1), 34–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00330.x
(2021). The (non) protective role of self-compassion in internalizing symptoms: Two empirical studies in adolescents demonstrating unwanted effects of using the Self-Compassion Scale total score. Mindfulness, 12(1), 240–252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01514-3
(2011). Practicing compassion increases happiness and self-esteem. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12(6), 963–981. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-010-9239-1
(2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2, 223–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309027
(2013). The relationship between self-compassion and other-focused concern among college undergraduates, community adults, and practicing meditators. Self and Identity, 12(2), 160–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2011.649546
(1991).
(Measurement and control of response bias . In J. P. RobinsonP. R. ShaverL. S. WrightsmanEds., Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes (pp. 17–59). Academic Press.2020). The development and validation of the Compassion Scale. Assessment, 27(1), 21–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191119874108
(1997). La Scala dell’Autostima di Rosenberg: Traduzione e validazione Italiana
([The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Italian translation and validation] . Bollettino di Psicologia Applicata, 223, 35–44.2021). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. https://www.R-project.org/
. (1965). Society and the adolescent child. Princeton University Press.
(2012). Refining the theory of basic individual values. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 103(4), 663–688. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029393
(Seppälä, E. M.Simon-Thomas, E.Brown, S. L.Worline, M. C.Cameron, C. D.Doty, J. R. (Eds.). (2017). The Oxford handbook of compassion science. Oxford University Press.
2006). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80
(2016). What is compassion and how can we measure it? A review of definitions and measures. Clinical Psychology Review, 47, 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.05.004
(2003). Factorial and construct validity of the Italian Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 19(2), 131–141. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.19.2.131
(2005). Model of effects of adult attachment on emotional empathy of counseling students. Journal of Counseling & Development, 83(1), 66–77. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2005.tb00581.x
(2017). Self-compassion as a healthy attitude toward the self: Factorial and construct validity in an Italian sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 119, 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.06.028
(1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063–1070. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063
(