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Emotional
Self-Love & Self-Compassion Test (SCS)
The Self-Love and Self-Compassion Test (Self-Compassion Scale) is a scientifically validated questionnaire by Dr. Kristin Neff that measures 6 components of your relationship with yourself: self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification. Take this free self-love test online and discover your level of self-compassion.
questions
26
Time
8 min
Method
self-love
Rating
4.8
What you'll learn
Your level of self-kindness — how warm and understanding you are toward yourself during difficult times
Degree of self-judgment — how harshly you criticize yourself for mistakes
Common humanity awareness — whether you see your difficulties as part of shared human experience
Isolation level — whether you feel alone in your struggles
Mindfulness — your ability to take a balanced approach to negative emotions
Over-identification — how much you get consumed by negative experiences
Key facts
26
Questions
8 min
Time
6
Scales
2003
Created
K. Neff
Author
4,000+
Studies
History & development
2003
Kristin Neff publishes the original SCS in the journal Self and Identity
2007
Connection between self-compassion and positive psychological functioning confirmed
2010
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program created for developing self-compassion
2015
Short form SCS-SF with 12 items published
2019
Meta-analysis of 79 studies confirms link between self-compassion and mental health
2023
SCS translated into 40+ languages, used in 4,000+ peer-reviewed studies
About the methodology
The Self-Love Test is based on the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), developed by Dr. Kristin Neff at the University of Texas at Austin. The methodology is rooted in Buddhist psychology and the concept of self-compassion as a three-component construct: self-kindness (vs.
self-judgment), common humanity (vs. isolation), and mindfulness (vs. over-identification). The test has undergone rigorous psychometric validation: internal consistency α = 0.92, test-retest reliability r = 0.93. The SCS has been translated into 40+ languages and used in over 4,000 peer-reviewed studies.
Meta-analyses show strong negative correlations of self-compassion with depression (r = −0.52), anxiety (r = −0.51), and stress (r = −0.54), and positive correlations with well-being (r = 0.47) and resilience (r = 0.42).
Scientific references
Neff, K. D. (2003)
Neff, K. D., Kirkpatrick, K. L., Rude, S. S. (2007)
Neff, K. D., Rude, S. S., Kirkpatrick, K. L. (2007)
Braun, T. D., Park, C. L., Gorin, A. (2016)
Frequently asked questions
What is the Self-Love Test?
The Self-Love Test (SCS) is a scientifically validated psychological questionnaire developed by Kristin Neff that measures self-compassion across 6 scales: self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification.
How accurate is this test?
The SCS has high reliability (α = 0.92) and test-retest stability (r = 0.93). It is one of the most validated instruments in positive psychology, used in over 4,000 scientific studies.
Can self-love be learned?
Yes, numerous studies show that self-compassion can be developed through mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and specialized programs like the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer.
What's the difference between self-love and selfishness?
Self-compassion is not selfishness. Research shows that people with high self-compassion are more empathetic, forgiving, and maintain healthier relationships with others.
How often should I take this test?
It's recommended to take the test every 3-6 months to track changes in self-compassion levels, especially if you're practicing self-compassion development techniques.
Instructions
Please read each statement carefully before answering. Indicate how often you behave in the stated manner, using the scale from 'Almost never' to 'Almost always'.
Ready to start?
Over 1500 scientifically validated tests. Completely free and no registration required.