Related Experiment Videos
[A short scale for measuring social support in the elderly: the SSL12-I]
L M van Eijk1, G I Kempen, F L van Sonderen
1Noordelijk Centrum voor Gezondheidsvraagstukken, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.
Tijdschrift Voor Gerontologie En Geriatrie
|October 1, 1994
Summary
The Social Support List--Interaction version (SSL12-I) effectively measures social support in the elderly. Validation in a larger random sample confirms its reliability and construct validity for assessing support in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychometrics
- Social Sciences
Context:
- Assessing social support is crucial for understanding well-being in aging populations.
- Existing instruments may require adaptation for specific demographic groups.
- The Social Support List--Interaction version (SSL12-I) was developed to address this need.
Purpose:
- To validate the shortened Social Support List--Interaction version (SSL12-I) in a random sample of elderly individuals.
- To evaluate the psychometric properties of the SSL12-I, including internal consistency and construct validity.
Summary:
- The SSL12-I, a 12-item scale with three subscales (everyday social support, social support in problem situations, esteem support), was tested on 245 elderly individuals.
- Factor analysis confirmed the three-component structure, which was more distinct in the larger sample.
- High internal consistency was found (Cronbach's alpha: .82, .79, .75 for subscales; .87 for total scale).
- Construct validity was deemed satisfactory.
Impact:
- The study provides robust evidence for the SSL12-I's reliability and validity as a measure of social support in the elderly.
- This validated instrument can be utilized in research and clinical settings to assess social support networks in older adults.
- Findings contribute to the development of targeted interventions to enhance social support and well-being in aging populations.