Compassion in Social Context: psychometric validation of the Social Self-Compassion Scale in Italy

The ability to extend compassion toward oneself in challenging social contexts is a key contributor to psychological well-being. This study aimed to validate the Italian version of the Social Self-Compassion Scale (SSCS), a 12-item instrument assessing both positive and negative aspects of social self-compassion. In Study 1 (N = 471), Exploratory Factor Analysis supported the original two-factor structure, with all items loading as expected. In Study 2 (N = 567), Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the two-factor model and indicated that a competing one-factor model provided a poorer fit. Correlational analyses (N = 366) showed that Social Self-Kindness was positively, and Social Self-Criticism negatively, associated with psychological well-being, social well-being, and societal mattering. Hierarchical regression analyses further indicated that adding the SSCS dimensions (Social Self-Kindness and Social Self-Criticism) improved the prediction of social well-being, positive relations with others, and societal mattering beyond general self-compassion. These findings support the Italian SSCS as a reliable measure of social self-compassion and highlight its value for assessing how individuals respond to themselves following difficult interpersonal experiences.