The influence of self-concept on resilience being mediated by self-compassion and compassion for others among Thai adolescents

Abstract

This investigation attempted to examine the influence of selfconcept on resilience being mediated by self-compassion and compassion for others among Thai adolescents. Study I was conducted to translate into Thai language and test the construct validity and reliability of the following research instruments: Adolescents’ Self-Concept Short Scale (ASCSS), Child & Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and Compassionate Love for Humanity Scale (CLHS). Data for Study I were collected from 500 Thai adolescents in the Bangkok area. Study II tested for the best-fit model of the causal relationship between self-concept and resilience, being mediated by the factors of self-compassion and compassion for others. Data for Study II were collected from 503 Thai adolescents in the Bangkok area. A self-administered survey questionnaire in Thai was employed for data collection which consisted of the following parts: a researcher-constructed set of questions to elicit demographic information, the ASCSS to measure the level of positive self-concept, the CYRM to measure the level of resilience, the SCS to measure the level of self-compassion, and the CLHS to measure the level of compassion for others. The results of Study I confirmed that ten items from the ASCSS, eight items from the CYRM, and two items from the CLHS should be eliminated. In terms of component, the original scale of ASCSS was consisted of six dimensions while in this study, five dimensions were established. The original scale of CYRM consists of three subscales, however, in this study, six components were identified. For the SCS, the original scale consisted of six dimensions, whereas this study identified three dimensions. For the last scale CLHS, the scale was presented to measure a single, underlying factor. Nevertheless, in this study, four components were identified. After the EFA, the results of study I demonstrated that the Thai versions of the ASCSS, CYRM, SCS, and CLHS are psychometrically sound and, therefore, reliable and valid for use with Thai participants. In Study II, the fully identified path model demonstrated that selfconcept has positive influence on the participants’ reported level of resilience, being mediated by self-compassion, however, the results indicated that the factor of compassion for others does not function as the mediator of the two causal relationship between self-concept and resilience for this particular population of this study.