Introduction
Researchers and clinicians increasingly recognize compassion as a trainable set of skills essential for mental health and well-being. Consequently, precise measurement tools have gained prominence. The Compassion Questionnaires for Self and Others–Revised (CQSO-R), developed by Bassam Khoury and Rodrigo C. Vergara, offer two parallel instruments: the Compassion Questionnaire–Self Revised (CQS-R) and the Compassion Questionnaire–Others Revised (CQO-R). published recently in a 2026 journal issue following its 2025 online publication, these revised scales improve upon earlier versions through enhanced psychometric properties, balanced item wording, and broader generalizability. Moreover, the instruments maintain a clear conceptual distinction between compassion and mindfulness. Over 7 citations already underscore growing interest in these tools.
Therefore, this article provides researchers and clinicians with a complete overview of the CQSO-R, including its structure, psychometric properties, administration, scoring, and practical applications in compassion-focused interventions and psychological assessment.
Key Features of the Compassion Questionnaires for Self and Others-Revised (CQSO-R)
Purpose and Use
The primary purpose of the CQSO-R is to assess compassion toward the self and others as multifaceted, trainable skills encompassing affective, cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal dimensions. Crucially, the tool keeps compassion conceptually distinct from mindfulness, which differentiates it from older measures. Consequently, investigators can evaluate compassion directly without confounding variables.
Target Population
The CQSO-R is fully validated for adult populations. Specifically, it is designed for individuals who are:
- Young Adults (18–24 years)
- Middle-Aged Adults (25–44 years)
- Older Adults (45–64 years)
- Older People (65+ years)
Structure
In total, if you administer both instruments together, the toolkit contains 72 items. However, researchers can also utilize them separately based on their specific study objectives:
- CQS-R (39 items): Covers self-directed compassion. The items assess self-critical or self-kind thoughts, openness to receiving care, and specific actions taken to soothe one’s own suffering.
- CQO-R (33 items): Covers compassion toward others. These questions evaluate nonjudgmental responses to external distress and concrete actions intended to comfort others.
Additionally, both scales break down into three identical core sub-domains:
- Thinking/Feeling Compassionately: Focuses on the cognitive and affective elements (20 items in CQS-R; 13 items in CQO-R).
- Connection with Others: Evaluates the interpersonal dimension (10 items in CQS-R; 7 items in CQO-R).
- Acting or Intention to Act Compassionately: Measures behavioral intentions and concrete responses (9 items in CQS-R; 13 items in CQO-R).
Scoring Method
Both questionnaires utilize a standardized 5-point Likert response scale, where
- 1 equals “Almost Never”
- 5 equals “Almost Always”
To calculate the scores, you compute each of the three dimensions separately using the average of its corresponding items. Additionally, you must factor in reverse-scored items, which the scoring instructions clearly mark with an “R”.
While you can compute a total score by averaging the three dimension scores, the authors highly recommend interpreting the three dimension scores independently. This approach provides more detailed and nuanced information about specific compassion-related skills.
Currently, there are no established cut-off scores, meaning that researchers interpret data dimensionally rather than categorically.
Administration Format
Because the CQSO-R requires no specialized training, it serves as a highly accessible tool that is entirely self-administered. Furthermore, the questionnaire offers excellent logistical flexibility, as healthcare teams can deliver it through multiple formats:
- Paper-based forms
- Digital (online) platforms
- In-person interviews
- Phone or video calls
When administering the CQS-R or CQO-R individually, the process typically takes 10 to 15 minutes. Alternatively, completing both instruments together requires approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
Applications of the Compassion Questionnaires for Self and Others-Revised (CQSO-R)
The CQSO-R has broad utility across multiple fields of psychology, mindfulness research, and psychiatric screening:
- Research Endpoint: It serves as an ideal metric in clinical trials evaluating compassion-focused interventions.
- Screening: Clinicians can easily scan for deficits in self-soothing behaviors or interpersonal connection.
- Treatment Planning: Therapists can use the subscale breakdowns to build tailored therapeutic protocols that target specific cognitive or behavioral gaps.
Languages and availability
The CQSO-R is currently available in
- English
Moreover, it is free for use under a Creative Commons (CC BY) license, making it highly accessible for non-commercial research and clinical applications.
Reliability and Validity
The CQSO-R demonstrates high reliability and validity. For the CQS-R total score, Cronbach’s alpha reaches .91 and Total Omega .92–.93 across datasets. For the CQO-R total score, Cronbach’s alpha equals .95 and Total Omega .95. Subscale alphas remain strong (lowest around .89–.93). Construct validity receives support from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, while convergent and discriminant validity emerge through correlations with compassion, mindfulness, empathy, active listening, affect, stress, and well-being measures. Additionally, machine-learning approaches provide predictive evidence.
- The original validation study link
Limitations and Considerations
Despite its strengths, the CQSO-R has several limitations:
- Self-Report Measure: Because it relies entirely on a self-administered design, responses are fundamentally subjective and remain vulnerable to a participant’s personal interpretation of the items.
- Cultural Bias: Potential differences in baseline cultural backgrounds, behavioral norms, and localized perceptions of clinical symptoms may influence how respondents interpret and answer questions across distinct communities.
- Length (Too Long for Some Contexts): Certain clinical contexts or high-volume testing environments may find the overall questionnaire length time-consuming, which can increase the risk of respondent fatigue.
- Language Barriers (Primarily English): Its practical application is highly restricted by linguistic availability, as it is primarily available in English and requires validated translations to ensure accurate cross-cultural use.
- Limited Validation Studies to Date: As it is a newer instrument, the supporting psychometric data on its clinical properties and performance across diverse, real-world patient samples is still emerging in literature.
- Age Restrictions (Adults 18+): The clinical utility and normative data of the tool are strictly restricted to adult populations, making it entirely unsuitable for children or younger age brackets.
- Social Desirability Bias: Respondents might consciously or unconsciously alter their true answers to avoid stigma or present themselves in a more favorable, socially acceptable light.
Other Versions And Related Questionnaires
The revised scales build on the original Compassion Questionnaire towards the Self (CQS) and Compassion Questionnaire for Others (CQO).
Researchers may also combine CQSO-R with complementary tools such as:
- Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)
- Compassion Scale (CS)
- Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales (CEAS)
- Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCSS/SOCSO)
- Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS)
- Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ)
- Active-Empathic Listening Scale (AELS)
Additional Resources
- The original validation study for the revised version link
- You can access the questionnaire as a PDF through this link
- Background/original version link
- For inquiries, contact Bassam Khoury at bassam.el-khoury@mcgill.ca (McGill University).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Who can use the CQSO-R?
Clinicians, researchers, and healthcare providers can use the CQSO-R for adults aged 18 and older interested in assessing self-compassion and compassion toward others. - How long does it take to complete the CQSO-R?
Participants typically take 10–15 minutes per scale or 15–30 minutes when administering both CQS-R and CQO-R together. - How is the CQSO-R administered?
Healthcare teams can administer the questionnaires via paper-based, digital (online), or interview formats, offering flexibility across settings. - Is there any cost to using the CQSO-R?
The CQSO-R is free for non-commercial research and clinical use under Creative Commons licensing.
A Word From ResRef about the Compassion Questionnaires for Self and Others-Revised (CQSO-R)
The Compassion Questionnaires for Self and Others–Revised (CQSO-R) provide a comprehensive self-report assessment of compassion toward oneself and toward others through two parallel instruments: CQS-R and CQO-R. Their main strength is the operationalization of compassion as a set of affective/cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal skills while remaining conceptually distinct from mindfulness. The revised versions show strong psychometric performance, clear subscale structure, and support for total scores. However, ResRef users should note that the current evidence is based primarily on an English-speaking Canadian adult sample, with no reported test-retest reliability, validated translations, or direct clinical responsiveness data in the source article.
References
- Khoury, B. & C. Vergara, R.. (2025). Compassion questionnaires revised: scales development and validation. Assessment, 33(4), 653-687. Link
- Khoury, B., Vergara, R. C., & Spinelli, C.. (2023). Compassion questionnaires: scales development and validation. Cognitive Therapy And Research, 47(6), 1006-1032. Link
