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A Multiple Indicator Multiple Cause (MIMIC) model of the Self-Compassion Scale Youth (SCS-Y) and investigation of differential item functioning in China, Hong Kong and UK adolescents

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Abstract

Objectives

Self-compassion allows one to accept themselves, lower self-criticism and self-judgement and view one's failures and setbacks in a balanced way. Self-compassion in adolescents is an important protective factor against mental distress. However, it is subject to gender and cultural influences. In light of the paucity of self-compassion scales in adolescents, it is crucial to explore measurement invariance of self-compassion measures in adolescents across cultures for its future clinical application in measuring the outcome of compassion-based interventions. The current study validated the Self-Compassion Scale for Youth (SCS-Y) in a large cross-cultural sample.

Method

A community sample of 2881 of adolescents aged 12–18 years across Hong Kong, China and the UK were recruited through the online platform Qualtrics. Psychometric properties of the SCS-Y were examined including its reliability and concurrent validity, and a Multiple Indicator Multiple Cause (MIMIC) model was adopted to test measurement invariance of the SCS-Y while differential item functioning (DIF) was checked across gender and countries.

Results

Examination of the SCS-Y revealed good psychometric properties including a high reliability, discriminant validity and concurrent validity with SCS. A MIMIC model yielded good model fit for a hypothetical 6-factor model fit (CFI = 0.980; TLI = 0.974; RMSEA = 0.038). Two items were detected for DIF across country.

Conclusion

The study established good psychometric properties for SCS-Y including measurement invariance across gender and country. This analysis prepares the SCS-Y for subsequent evaluation of compassion-focused therapy for young people across cultures.

Preregistration

This study was not pre-registered.

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Data Availability

Data is available upon emailing Dr. H. N. Cheung at amy.hn.cheung@hku.hk.

References 

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Funding

The current study is funded by Hong Kong Metropolitan University under the Research and Development Scheme (PACRD/R6423).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Dr. Ho Nam Cheung, lead author and corresponding author, designed the study, collected data, ran analysis, and drafted the first manuscript.

Miss. Wing Shan Ho, second author, prepared demographic statistics and drafted part of the result section.

Dr. Habibi Asgarabad, M helped double-checked the data analysis and revised tables and results in the last resubmission.

Prof. Stella Chan, joint last author, reviewed the study and the manuscript.

Prof. Jo Williams, joint last author, reviewed the study and the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. N. Cheung.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

The study had been approved by the ethics committee of the Hong Kong Metropolitan University and has, therefore, been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. All participants provided informed consent prior to their participation in the study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Habibi Asgarabad, M., S. W. Y. Chan and J. Williams joint last authorship.

M. Habibi Asgarabad, S. W. Y. Chan, and J. Williams are the joint last authorship.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 373 KB)

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Cheung, H.N., Ho, W.S., Habibi Asgarabad, M. et al. A Multiple Indicator Multiple Cause (MIMIC) model of the Self-Compassion Scale Youth (SCS-Y) and investigation of differential item functioning in China, Hong Kong and UK adolescents. Mindfulness 14, 1967–1979 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02170-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02170-z

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