Validity of the Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales with family carers of older adults: Confirmatory factor analyses

ABSTRACTObjectives:To confirm the factor validity of the Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales (CEAS), as set out in the original development study, when used with a sample of family carers of older adults.Design:A series of confirmatory factor analyses were undertaken to test the previously proposed factor solutions of each scale.Setting:As part of a larger cross-sectional survey, the scales were completed online or via hard copy between July and December 2019.Participants:An international sample of 171 family carers of adults aged 65 years or older.Measurements:The CEAS are three measures that individually assess Compassion for Self, Compassion to Others, and Compassion from Others. All scales measure two aspects, “engagement” and “actions” (two-factor solution), and Compassion for Self also measures two further dimensions within engagement: “sensitivity to suffering” and “engagement with suffering” (three-factor solution).Results:Results were largely consistent with the two-factor solutions proposed for the three orientations of compassion, with acceptable fit and good internal reliability. There was some support for the three-factor solution of Compassion for Self; however, despite model fit comparable to the two-factor solution, internal reliability of the delineated “engagement” dimensions was low, and there was a weak factor loading for item 5 that measured distress tolerance.Conclusions:Use of the CEAS with family carers of older adults is promising. Further research is recommended with larger samples and to explore distress tolerance as a competency within conceptualization and measurement of compassion.