The Compassion Motivation and Action Scales: a self-report measure of compassionate and self-compassionate behaviours

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: While motivation and action are core components of compassion and self-compassion, no other measure thoroughly assesses these aspects, or offers a measure of change in compassionate action over time. In a novel application of the language of motivation and action described in motivational interviewing theory and research, this study developed the Compassion Motivation and Action Scales (CMAS), and examined its psychometric characteristics. Method: A sample of 621 participants was recruited to conduct exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on the CMAS for both Compassion and Self-Compassion Scales. Results: The analyses supported a factor structure of the CMAS of three subscales, Intention, Distress Tolerance, and Action, for Compassion (12-items) and Self-Compassion (18-items) Scales. The confirmatory factor analysis supported stability of the factor structures of the CMAS scales. Psychometric evaluation revealed that the CMAS scales had good internal consistency, and satisfactory construct and concurrent validity with other psychometrically valid measures of compassion and mental health. Conclusion: The CMAS offers a brief, user friendly, public domain measure of compassionate and self-compassionate motivation and action, which was psychometrically strong. Potential uses of the measure as both a research and clinical tool, and implications for further research, are discussed. Key Points What is already known about this topic: Motivation and action are core components of compassion and self-compassion, however, no other measure thoroughly assesses these aspects, or offers a measure of change in compassionate action over time. Motivational Interviewing is a theoretical and evidence-based model describing the language of motivation and action, and offers a novel framework for assessing these components in compassion and self-compassion Developing a questionnaire assessing compassion motivation and action, as well as changes in compassionate action over time, will be an important development for both clinical and research applications. What this paper adds: This study is the first to draw on a sophisticated and well-established model of motivation and action, and apply it to assessing these components in compassion and self-compassion, to develop the Compassion Motivation and Action Scales (CMAS). The factor analysis of the two scales, CMAS Compassion Scale (12-items) and CMAS Self-Compassion Scale (18-items), revealed three factors: Intention, Distress Tolerance, and Action. The resultant CMAS scales and factors were psychometrically strong, and the scales may be used to assess motivation and action at intake, and as a repeated assessment of change in compassionate and self-compassionate action across an intervention.