TY - JOUR
T1 - Measuring Compassion Toward Others
T2 - Dimensionality of the Compassion Scale in Community Adolescents and in Adolescents With Behavioral Disorders
AU - Sousa, Rúben
AU - Paulo, Marlene
AU - Brazão, Nélio
AU - Castilho, Paula
AU - Rijo, Daniel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022. American Psychological Association
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Compassion toward others has been defined as the sensitivity to the suffering of others with the genuine commitment to relieve/prevent it. The Compassion Scale (CS) measures this construct and despite its relevance during adolescence, studies have been mostly conducted with adults. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Compassion Scale-Adolescents (CS-A) in community adolescents (n = 658; 409 girls) and in boys with behavioral disorders (n = 183), from 14 to 18 years old. Results showed the adequacy of a hierarchical-CFA measurement model, with a general score of compassion and four specific factors (i.e., Kindness, Common Humanity, Mindfulness and Indifference). Measurement invariance was tested across samples. Community girls presented higher levels of compassion when compared to boys. Also, behaviorally disturbed boys presented decreased levels of compassion when compared to community boys. Evidence for reliability and construct validity is also provided. The CS-A allows future research between genders in community adolescents. Additionally, future research exploring compassion using the CS-A, between community boys and samples of behaviorally disturbed boys, is now possible.
AB - Compassion toward others has been defined as the sensitivity to the suffering of others with the genuine commitment to relieve/prevent it. The Compassion Scale (CS) measures this construct and despite its relevance during adolescence, studies have been mostly conducted with adults. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Compassion Scale-Adolescents (CS-A) in community adolescents (n = 658; 409 girls) and in boys with behavioral disorders (n = 183), from 14 to 18 years old. Results showed the adequacy of a hierarchical-CFA measurement model, with a general score of compassion and four specific factors (i.e., Kindness, Common Humanity, Mindfulness and Indifference). Measurement invariance was tested across samples. Community girls presented higher levels of compassion when compared to boys. Also, behaviorally disturbed boys presented decreased levels of compassion when compared to community boys. Evidence for reliability and construct validity is also provided. The CS-A allows future research between genders in community adolescents. Additionally, future research exploring compassion using the CS-A, between community boys and samples of behaviorally disturbed boys, is now possible.
KW - Adolescence
KW - Compassion toward others
KW - Measurement invariance
KW - Multigroup analyses
KW - Psychometric analyses
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130624485&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/pas0001133
DO - 10.1037/pas0001133
M3 - Article
C2 - 35357875
AN - SCOPUS:85130624485
SN - 1040-3590
VL - 34
SP - 631
EP - 642
JO - Psychological Assessment
JF - Psychological Assessment
IS - 7
ER -