Research Article

Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS)

Volume: 62 Number: 62 July 22, 2025
TR EN

Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS)

Abstract

The original Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS) developed by Gu et al. (2020) support a five-factor structure for both compassion for others (SOCS-O) and self-compassion (SOCS-S). They assess compassion through five dimensions: recognizing suffering, understanding it as a universal experience, emotionally connecting with the sufferer, tolerating distress, and being motivated to alleviate suffering and offer a solution to the gap in existing measures of compassion, which often lack robustness and comprehensiveness. The purpose of this study is to validate the Turkish translations of both scales utilizing a cross-sectional and using a methodological design. The data for this study has been collected digitally from 654 Turkish participants for the SOCS-S and 660 Turkish participants for the SOCS-O. Confirmatory Factor Analysis and reliability assessments were completed to examine the psychometric properties of the SOCS. Results supported the five-factor structure of both scales, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha values ranged from 0.70 to 0.93 across subscales). Criterion validity was established through significant correlations with established measures of self-compassion and emotional affect, further affirming the scales' validity in Turkish contexts. Research findings suggest that the Turkish versions of SOCS are reliable and valid scales for measuring compassion in two levels.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The study received approval from the Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee of Marmara University (Date-Number: 06.10.2022 – 414697). Institutional permission was granted following approval from the scale's owner via email. The research was conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, ensuring adherence to ethical standards throughout the study (World Medical Association, 2013). Ethical principles, including informed consent and participant confidentiality, were rigorously followed. This article is part of a doctoral dissertation conducted by Eda Öztürk Belet at Marmara University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. A. Nilgün Canel.

References

  1. Baker, F. B. (2001). The basics of item response theory (2nd ed.). ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED458219.pdf
  2. Deniz, M. E., Kesici, Ş., & Sümer, A. S. (2008). The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Self-Compassion Scale. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 36(9), 1151–1160. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2008.36.9.1151
  3. de Krijger, E., Willems, R., Ten Klooster, P., Bakker, E., Miedema, H., Drossaert, C., & Bohlmeijer, E. (2022). Further validation of a Dutch translation of the Sussex Oxford compassion for the self scale in samples of crisis line volunteers, military personnel, and nursing students. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 895850. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.895850
  4. Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2013). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. American Psychologist, 68(7), 673–685. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013262
  5. Gençöz, T. (2000). Pozitif ve negatif duygu ölçeği: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 15(46), 19–26.
  6. Gilbert, P., & Procter, S. (2006). Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self-criticism: Overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 13(6), 353–379. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.507
  7. Goetz, J. L., Keltner, D., & Simon-Thomas, E. (2010). Compassion: An evolutionary analysis and empirical review. Emotion, 10(2), 105–130. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018807
  8. Gu, J., Baer, R., Cavanagh, K., Kuyken, W., & Strauss, C. (2020). Development and psychometric properties of the Sussex-Oxford compassion scales (SOCS). Assessment, 27(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191119860911

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychological Counseling and Guidance (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

June 25, 2025

Publication Date

July 22, 2025

Submission Date

December 31, 2024

Acceptance Date

April 25, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 62 Number: 62

APA
Öztürk Belet, E., & Canel, A. (2025). Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS). Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 62(62), 106-125. https://doi.org/10.15285/maruaebd.1609624
AMA
1.Öztürk Belet E, Canel A. Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS). Marmara Education Journal. 2025;62(62):106-125. doi:10.15285/maruaebd.1609624
Chicago
Öztürk Belet, Eda, and Azize Canel. 2025. “Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS)”. Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi 62 (62): 106-25. https://doi.org/10.15285/maruaebd.1609624.
EndNote
Öztürk Belet E, Canel A (July 1, 2025) Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS). Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi 62 62 106–125.
IEEE
[1]E. Öztürk Belet and A. Canel, “Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS)”, Marmara Education Journal, vol. 62, no. 62, pp. 106–125, July 2025, doi: 10.15285/maruaebd.1609624.
ISNAD
Öztürk Belet, Eda - Canel, Azize. “Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS)”. Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi 62/62 (July 1, 2025): 106-125. https://doi.org/10.15285/maruaebd.1609624.
JAMA
1.Öztürk Belet E, Canel A. Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS). Marmara Education Journal. 2025;62:106–125.
MLA
Öztürk Belet, Eda, and Azize Canel. “Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS)”. Marmara Üniversitesi Atatürk Eğitim Fakültesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 62, no. 62, July 2025, pp. 106-25, doi:10.15285/maruaebd.1609624.
Vancouver
1.Eda Öztürk Belet, Azize Canel. Factor Structure and Psychometric Characteristics of the Turkish Adaptation of Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS). Marmara Education Journal. 2025 Jul. 1;62(62):106-25. doi:10.15285/maruaebd.1609624