Abstract : Self-compassion is a key psychological resource during adolescence, yet limited empirical research has examined it within the Indian context. This cross-sectional study examined levels of self-compassion among Indian adolescents aged 11-17 years (N = 59) using the Self-Compassion Scale-Youth (SCS-Y). Item-level and subscale-level descriptive analyses were conducted. Results indicated moderate overall self-compassion (M = 2.83), with higher mean scores for mindfulness and self-kindness, and lower mean scores for over-identification and self-judgement. Item-level responses demonstrated moderate variability (average SD = 1.12), indicating generally consistent response patterns across participants. When compared with international adolescent samples using the same measure, the findings were consistent with prior research showing moderate levels of self-compassion in non-clinical adolescent populations. These findings indicate that self-compassion is a measurable and relevant psychological construct among Indian adolescents and suggest potential implications for school- and community-based interventions aimed at supporting adolescent well-being.

Keyword : Indian adolescents, mental health, SCS-Y, Self-compassion, well-being.