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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
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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