Old Wine in New Bottles? The Case of Self–Compassion and Neuroticism

Abstract

Research on self-compassion, which is defined as being understanding and kind to oneself when confronted with negative experiences, has produced an impressive number of articles in recent years. This research shows that individual differences in self-compassion, as measured by the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), are positively related to life satisfaction, health and social functioning. However, a critical and systematic test of self-compassion from a personality perspective has not yet conducted so far. In the present study (N = 576), we (i) tested the factor structure of the SCS, (ii) examined the distinctiveness of self-compassion with regard to the five-factor model of personality, focusing on neuroticism, and (iii) tested the incremental predictive power of self-compassion beyond the five-factor model in the context of life satisfaction. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor plus six facets solution of self-compassion (a positive factor and a negative factor). Additional analyses revealed that the negative factor was redundant with facets of neuroticism (rs ≥ .85), whereas the positive factor had some unique variance left. However, neither the negative factor nor the positive factor could explain substantial incremental variance in life satisfaction beyond neuroticism. Recommendations for how to use the SCS are provided, and the future of research on selfcompassion is discussed.

Self–Compassion as A Facet of Neuroticism? A Reply to the Comments of Neff, TóTh–KiráLy, and Colosimo (2018)

“…We repeated the same model in Study 2 and found very similar results as in Study 1, namely, R 2 RUS = 0.804, R 2 CS = 0.636, and R 2 CH = 0.042. Overall, both reanalyses replicate the findings of Pfattheicher et al () in that RUS is largely redundant with (facets of) neuroticism and that CS has a major overlap with neuroticism, too. New is the finding that the only consistent specific factor of the SCS, CH, is largely independent from neuroticism.…”

“…We are somewhat sceptical concerning the second hurdle, because the contents of the SCS are so akin to neuroticism that we doubt that a clear separation is possible. Prior research has not shown that self‐compassion traits are distinct from neuroticism and its facets (Pfattheicher et al, ). Instead, we suggest that self‐compassionate traits should be considered traits below the established and much broader trait dimension of neuroticism.…”

“…Science is a cumulative journey. In this regard, we appreciate the response of Neff, Tóth‐Király, and Colosimo (); (hereby collectively referred to as ‘NTC’) to our critical analysis of the concept ‘self‐compassion’ and the self‐compassion scale (SCS) (Pfattheicher, Geiger, Hartung, Weiss, & Schindler, ). In this rebuttal, we will show that several major conclusions of NTC's response are problematic from both a conceptual and an empirical stance.…”

Self–Compassion is Best Measured as a Global Construct and is Overlapping with but Distinct from Neuroticism: A Response to Pfattheicher, Geiger, Hartung, Weiss, and Schindler (2017)

“…Pfattheicher et al () included 576 participants in their study (58.3% female, M age = 37.21). Please see the original publication for a full description of recruitment methods.…”

“…Pfattheicher, Geiger, Hartung, Weiss, and Schindler () recently published an article entitled ‘Old Wine in New Bottles? The Case of Self‐compassion and Neuroticism’.…”