A systematic review of self-report measures used to assess compassion in children and young people

Objectives
Scientific interest in compassion has increased in recent years. However, research highlights issues related to the measurement of compassion in children and young people (CYP). This systematic review aimed to describe and critically appraise measures of self- and other-compassion developed and/or validated with CYP.

Method
Medline, PsycInfo and Web of Science were searched from inception to 31st July 2024 to identify English language, peer-reviewed psychometric papers on the development or validation of compassion measures for use with CYP. The measures were critically reviewed and rated for quality.

Results
Nineteen articles were included that outlined psychometric properties of eight compassion measures: Compassionate Engagement and Actions Scales—Adolescence (CEAS-A); Compassion Scale – Adolescence (CS-A); Compassion Scale—Child (CS-C); Self-Compassion Scale (SCS); Self-Compassion Scale – Child (SCS-C); Self-Compassion Scale—Youth (SCS-Y); Self-Compassionate Reactions Scale – Child (SCRS-C); Shortened Self-Compassion Scale—Adolescence (S-SCS-A). Quality ratings ranged from 2 to 9 out of 14. The CEAS-A received the highest rating (9), followed by the SCS-Y (8), SCS (7) and CS-C (7). No measure captured all five compassion elements and evidence for test–retest reliability and floor and ceiling effects was largely absent. Most papers assessed self-compassion and used (translated, adapted versions of) the SCS and SCS-Y.

Conclusions
This review suggests there are no psychometrically robust measures that comprehensively assess self- and other- compassion in CYP, potentially impeding research. The psychometric quality of existing compassion measures for CYP should be improved, and/or a new measure should be developed, and include the measurement of compassion for others.

Preregistration
This study is not preregistered