Self-Compassion and Cultural Values: A Cross-Cultural Study of Self-Compassion Using a Multitrait-Multimethod (MTMM) Analytical Procedure

Abstract

Self-compassion is natural, trainable and multi-faceted human capacity. To date there has been little research into the role of culture in influencing the conceptual structure of the underlying construct, the relative importance of different facets of self-compassion, nor its relationships to cultural values. This study employed a cross-cultural design, with 4,124 participants from 11 purposively sampled datasets drawn from different countries. We aimed to assess the relevance of positive and negative items when building the self-compassion construct, the convergence among the self-compassion components, and the possible influence of cultural values. Each dataset comprised undergraduate students who completed the “Self-Compassion Scale” (SCS). We used a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) approach to the multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) model, separating the variability into self-compassion components (self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness), method (positive and negative valence), and error (uniqueness). The normative scores of the Values Survey Module (VSM) in each country, according to the cultural dimensions of individualism, masculinity, power distance, long-term orientation, uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence, were considered. We used Spearman coefficients (rs) to assess the degree of association between the cultural values and the variance coming from the positive and negative items to explain self-compassion traits, as well as the variance shared among the self-compassion traits, after removing the method effects produced by the item valence. The CFA applied to the MTMM model provided acceptable fit in all the samples. Positive items made a greater contribution to capturing the traits comprising self-compassion when the long-term orientation cultural value was higher (rs = 0.62; p = 0.042). Negative items did not make significant contributions to building the construct when the individualism cultural value was higher, but moderate effects were found (rs = 0.40; p = 0.228). The level of common variance among the self-compassion trait factors was inversely related to the indulgence cultural value (rs = -0.65; p = 0.030). The extent to which the positive and negative items contribute to explain self-compassion, and that different self-compassion facets might be regarded as reflecting a broader construct, might differ across cultural backgrounds.

The Process of Science: A Critical Evaluation of more than 15 Years of Research on Self-Compassion with the Self-Compassion Scale

“…This suggests once more that if one wants to assess the true nature of self-compassion by means of the SCS, it is preferable to rely on the compassionate self-responding components. A similar conclusion was reached by Montero-Marin et al (2018) who adopted a multitrait-multimethod analytical procedure analyzing the SCS data from 4120 participants in 11 samples with different cultural backgrounds. Their analysis indicated that "the positively valenced [compassionate selfresponding] items, compared with the negative [uncompassionate self-responding] ones (which suffered more from method effects), were better explained by the corresponding trait factors of self-compassion" (p. 10), which led them to propose that the assessment of self-compassion with the SCS can best be confined to the compassionate items.…”

“…However, as is often the case with reversed items, they can form separate factors and unintentionally introduce new dimensions and/or unwanted method variance in a measure (e.g., Wong et al 2003). A recent study has indeed shown that this also applies to the SCS (Montero-Marin et al 2018). The inclusion of the uncompassionate self-responding items is especially problematic because they are clearly in contrast with the protective nature of the self-compassion construct.…”

Effects of Self-Compassion Training on Work-Related Well-Being: A Systematic Review

“…In addition to sharing some properties with mindfulness, studies based on a work-related context have shown that selfcompassion is a correlate and predictor of a range of positive mental health outcomes (e.g., Montero-Marin et al, 2018;Kotera et al, 2019b. For example, self-compassionate workers tend to have higher levels of well-being and experience less burnout and emotional exhaustion (Alkema et al, 2008;Dev et al, 2018).…”

Attachment-based compassion therapy and adapted mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of depressive, anxious and adjustment disorders in mental health settings: a randomised controlled clinical trial protocol

“…In general, compassion forms a particular orientation of mind that is shaped in a motivational system orientated to certain sensitivity to suffering and a commitment to relieve suffering by recognising the universality of pain and the ability to meet that pain with equanimity 39 40. Compassion for the self (self-compassion) is this attitude focused on the self,41 and it has been found to be a key mechanism—together with mindfulness abilities—in the effectiveness of techniques such as MBSR and MBCT 42 43. Authors have hypothesised that self-compassion could be the ‘crucial attitudinal factor’ in the relationship between mindfulness and mental health 44.…”