Description

The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List – General Population (ISEL-GP) is a standardized psychometric instrument developed to assess perceived social support within the general population. The questionnaire evaluates individuals’ perceptions regarding the availability of supportive interpersonal relationships and the extent to which they believe that emotional, social, and practical assistance is accessible when needed. Rather than measuring the objective size of an individual’s social network, the ISEL-GP focuses on perceived social support, a psychological construct that has consistently been identified as one of the strongest protective factors for mental health, resilience, stress management, and overall quality of life.

Perceived social support has been associated with numerous positive psychological and physical health outcomes, including lower levels of anxiety and depression, improved coping with stressful life events, greater emotional resilience, enhanced life satisfaction, stronger interpersonal functioning, and better overall well-being. Individuals who perceive higher levels of social support are generally better equipped to adapt to adversity and maintain positive psychological functioning.

The questionnaire evaluates four fundamental dimensions of social support. Appraisal Support assesses the availability of trusted individuals who provide emotional support, constructive feedback, and guidance. Belonging Support evaluates the individual’s sense of belonging within a stable social network that offers companionship and meaningful social interaction. Tangible Support measures the perceived availability of practical assistance and material help during times of need. Self-Esteem Support assesses the extent to which individuals perceive that they are valued, respected, and appreciated by others. Participants respond to each statement using a Likert-type response scale, ranging from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.”

The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List – General Population (ISEL-GP) is widely applied in clinical psychology, health psychology, psychiatry, public health, nursing, social work, community psychology, behavioral medicine, epidemiology, rehabilitation, and quality-of-life research, where it serves as one of the most widely recognized instruments for assessing perceived social support.

Data Analysis and Use

Data obtained from the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List – General Population (ISEL-GP) are analyzed using comprehensive psychometric and statistical procedures designed to evaluate individuals’ perceptions of available social support. Individual responses are grouped according to the four support dimensions (Appraisal Support, Belonging Support, Tangible Support, and Self-Esteem Support), allowing separate domain scores as well as an overall Perceived Social Support Score to be calculated.

Psychometric evaluation typically includes analyses of internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, together with assessments of test–retest reliability, construct validity, content validity, criterion validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and exploratory or confirmatory factor analyses (EFA/CFA) to verify the multidimensional structure of the instrument. Cross-cultural adaptation, measurement invariance analyses, and normative comparisons are frequently conducted to ensure reliable application across different populations.

Statistical analyses commonly include descriptive statistics, calculation of means and standard deviations, Pearson or Spearman correlation analyses, multiple regression models, structural equation modeling (SEM), mediation and moderation analyses, cluster analysis, and comparative procedures such as independent-samples t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The ISEL-GP is frequently used to investigate relationships between perceived social support and variables including stress, anxiety, depression, resilience, coping strategies, life satisfaction, physical health, psychological well-being, and quality of life. It is also widely employed to evaluate psychosocial interventions and monitor changes in social support over time.

The findings are particularly valuable for psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, nurses, social workers, public health professionals, and researchers seeking to identify protective psychosocial factors, evaluate intervention effectiveness, monitor changes in social support, and develop evidence-based programs that strengthen interpersonal relationships and psychological resilience.

Objective

The primary objective of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List – General Population (ISEL-GP) is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of perceived social support within the general population. The questionnaire enables researchers and healthcare professionals to evaluate the availability of emotional, informational, social, and practical support while examining the role of social relationships in promoting psychological well-being, resilience, and overall health.

The instrument supports both scientific research and clinical practice by facilitating psychosocial assessment, identifying individuals with limited perceived social support, evaluating intervention outcomes, and contributing to evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies aimed at enhancing social connectedness, emotional well-being, and quality of life.

Scoring

The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List – General Population (ISEL-GP) consists of self-report statements completed using a Likert-type response scale ranging from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.” Individual responses are scored according to the standardized scoring procedure to calculate separate scores for Appraisal Support, Belonging Support, Tangible Support, and Self-Esteem Support, together with an overall Perceived Social Support Score.

Higher scores indicate greater perceived availability of social support, stronger interpersonal relationships, increased access to emotional and practical assistance, greater feelings of belonging, and higher perceived personal value within one’s social environment. Lower scores suggest more limited perceived social support and may indicate increased vulnerability to stress, emotional distress, social isolation, and reduced psychological well-being.

Interpretation of questionnaire scores should always be supported by comprehensive psychometric evaluation, including analyses of Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, construct validity, criterion validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, measurement invariance, normative comparisons, and cross-cultural validation, ensuring accurate and reliable assessment across diverse populations.

References

Cohen, S., & Hoberman, H. M. (1983). Positive Events and Social Supports as Buffers of Life Change Stress. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 13(2), 99–125.

Cohen, S., Mermelstein, R., Kamarck, T., & Hoberman, H. M. (1985). Measuring the Functional Components of Social Support. In I. G. Sarason & B. R. Sarason (Eds.), Social Support: Theory, Research and Applications (pp. 73–94). Springer.

Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, Social Support, and the Buffering Hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310–357.