The Сoncept of Self-compassion: a Russian Adaptation of the Scale by Kristin Neff

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Abstract

The article describes a relatively new psychological construct of self-compassion and its relation to another well-known notion, self-esteem. Arguments are presented in favor of the new construct in working with adolescents and patients. According to that, there is a need of an adaptation on a Russian sample of the scale, which measures self-compassion. It was hypothesized that the Self-Compassion Scale by K. Neff will be an appropriate instrument to measure the construct on a Russian sample, as it passed successful adaptation in many other countries. For that purpose the scale was translated, and was then given to students in three Russian cities, along with Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, Almost Perfect Scale, Experience in Close Relationships – Revised, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (students were from Moscow, Cheboksary, Kirov, N = 490, 152 males, 337 females, one person undefined, aged 17— 28 (М = 19,3, SD = 1,2)). ESEM showed satisfactory fit of the model with 6 specific factors (subscales) (χ2(184) = 452,074; CFI = 0,956; TLI = 0,923; RMSEA = 0, 055 (0,048; 0,061), SRMR = 0,028). Indices of reliability for the subscales were also satisfactory. Correlations of the subscales with other questionnaires showed good construct validity. Thus, the Russian version of the Self-Compassion Scale by K. Neff can be used in clinical and research purposes on Russian youth samples.

General Information

Keywords: self-compassion, self-esteem, suicidality

Journal rubric: Theory and Methodology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2020160404

Acknowledgements. This work was supported in part by Ulianov Chuvash State University, Bauman Moscow State Technical University and Vyatka State University.

For citation: Chistopolskaya K.A., Osin E.N., Enikolopov S.N., Nikolaev E.L., Mysina G.A., Drovosekov S.E. The Сoncept of Self-compassion: a Russian Adaptation of the Scale by Kristin Neff. Kul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya = Cultural-Historical Psychology, 2020. Vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 35–48. DOI: 10.17759/chp.2020160404.

A Part of Article

Self-compassion is a relatively new construct, which was introduced by an American psychologist Kristin Neff, and the author suggests replacing the concept of self-esteem with this term. Since 2003, she has consistently criticized self-esteem.

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Information About the Authors

Ksenia A. Chistopolskaya, Medical Psychologist, Psychiatric Department no. 2, Eramishantsev Moscow City Clinical Hospital, Junior Research Fellow, Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry – a branch of V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2552-5009, e-mail: ktchist@gmail.com

Evgeny N. Osin, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Deputy Head of the International Laboratory of Positive Psychology of Personality and Motivation, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3330-5647, e-mail: eosin@hse.ru

Sergey N. Enikolopov, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Head of Department of Clinical Psychology, Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7899-424X, e-mail: enikolopov@mail.ru

Evgeni L. Nikolaev, Doctor of Medicine, Associate Professor, Professor, Head of the Chair of Social and Clinical Psychology, Ulianov Chuvash State University, Cheboksary, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8976-715X, e-mail: pzdorovie@bk.ru

Galina A. Mysina, Doctor of Education, Associate Professor, Head of the Chair of Health-Saving Technologies and Adaptive Physical Culture, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2346-4372, e-mail: Mysina@bmstu.ru

Sergei E. Drovosekov, Educational Psychologist, General Secondary School no. 619, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6739-4804, e-mail: sergo.nevsky@yandex.ru

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