Analysis

The Srole’s Anomia Scale (SAS-9) is a psychometric instrument designed to assess the degree of social disconnection, alienation, and loss of confidence in shared social values and institutions experienced by individuals. The concept of anomia refers to a subjective sense that social norms, institutions, and value systems no longer provide a stable or reliable framework for understanding and navigating social life.

The scale includes statements reflecting feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness, distrust, social isolation, and uncertainty regarding prevailing moral or social standards. By examining the extent to which individuals agree or disagree with these statements, the instrument provides an indication of their perceived level of social alienation and disconnection.

Anomia is closely related to social integration and may be used to explore the relationship between individual perceptions and broader social conditions.

Aim

The primary aim of the SAS-9 is to assess the extent of social alienation and perceived erosion of social cohesion or shared values experienced by an individual.

The scale can help researchers examine how social, economic, political, and cultural conditions influence individuals’ trust in society, institutions, and the broader social environment.

It may also be used to investigate associations between anomia and variables such as social isolation, political disengagement, pessimism, institutional trust, and general social distress.

Main Dimensions

The scale focuses on several manifestations of anomia:

Social Alienation: feelings of detachment or disconnection from society and the wider social environment.

Loss of Trust: the belief that social institutions and other people are unreliable or untrustworthy.

Powerlessness: the perception that individuals have limited ability to influence social conditions or their own life circumstances.

Normative and Value Uncertainty: the sense that stable social or moral standards are absent or weakened.

Pessimism About the Future: the perception that social conditions are unlikely to improve and that personal efforts may have limited impact.

Scoring

The scale is typically scored using a 5-point Likert-type response format, with responses ranging from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree.

Each response is assigned a numerical value, and an overall score is obtained by summing the responses across items, taking into account the scoring direction of each statement.

A higher total score generally indicates a greater level of anomia, social alienation, and reduced confidence in the social environment, whereas lower scores suggest stronger feelings of social integration and stability.

The exact scoring and interpretation procedures should follow the instructions for the specific version of the Srole scale being used, particularly when modified or extended versions are administered.

Applications

The SAS-9 may be used in sociological, social psychological, and political research. It is particularly relevant to studies of social cohesion, institutional trust, political disengagement, social isolation, and perceptions of social change.

The scale may also be used in comparative research across demographic or social groups and in longitudinal studies examining how anomia changes during periods of economic, political, or social transformation.

When combined with measures of psychological well-being, social trust, or political participation, the SAS-9 can provide a broader understanding of the relationship between social conditions and individual adjustment.

References

Srole, L. (1956). Social integration and certain corollaries. American Sociological Review, 21, 709–716.

Bell, W. (1957). Anomia, social isolation and class structure. Sociometry, 20, 105–116.

Robinson, J. P., & Shaver, P. R. (1969). Measures of Political Attitudes. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.

Teevan, J. J., Jr. (1975). On measuring anomia: Suggested modification of the Srole scale. The Pacific Sociological Review, 18, 159–170.

Travis, R. (1993). The MOS alienation scale: An alternative to Srole’s anomia scale. Social Indicators Research, 28, 71–91.