Description

The Social Support Index (SSI) [AQ-17] is a standardized questionnaire used to assess the level of social support an individual perceives from their surrounding community, family, and friends. Social support refers to emotional, informational, and practical assistance available from social networks. This index provides insights into the perceived quality and extent of this support.

The SSI is commonly used in research to understand how social environments impact well-being, mental health, and the ability to cope with stress. It can be applied across different contexts, including mental health evaluations, workplace assessments, and general community support studies.

Analysis and Data Use

The SSI consists of 17 items (questions), often scored on a Likert scale, where respondents rate the degree to which they agree with statements about their social network. Responses typically range from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.” The final score is an aggregate of the individual responses, reflecting the perceived strength and quality of social support.

Key Areas of Analysis:

Score Calculation: The raw score is computed based on the sum of all 17 items. Higher scores generally indicate stronger social support.

Subscales: The SSI might have subscales that break down into specific types of support (e.g., emotional, practical, informational).

Interpretation: Analyzing SSI scores typically involves examining correlations with health outcomes, mental health indicators, or life satisfaction. Higher social support correlates with better outcomes in these areas.

Data Processing: For data analysis, researchers might run statistical tests such as regression analysis, correlation, or factor analysis to identify patterns or relationships with other variables (e.g., stress levels, income, or job satisfaction).

Reliability and Validity: Cronbach’s Alpha is often used to assess the internal consistency of the scale, ensuring the SSI provides reliable data across different contexts.

Objective

The primary goal of using the Social Support Index (SSI) is to calibrate the instrument to the population being studied. This involves ensuring that the index accurately measures the intended social support construct within different cultural, demographic, or situational contexts. Calibration might involve:

Adjusting wording for cultural relevance.

Validating the instrument through pilot studies.

Establishing normed scores for specific populations.

Calibration Steps

Pilot Testing: Conducting a small-scale survey using the SSI to gather initial data.

Factor Analysis: Identifying whether the questions group into meaningful subscales.

Reliability Testing: Using measures like Cronbach’s Alpha to ensure the consistency of responses.

Refinement: Adjusting any items that do not perform well or that reduce the overall reliability of the index.

Final Validation: Applying the SSI in a larger, representative sample to confirm the reliability and validity.

Bibliography

House, J. S. (1981). Work Stress and Social Support. Addison-Wesley.

This work details the foundational role of social support in mitigating workplace stress.

Sarason, I.G., & Sarason, B.R. (1985). Social support: Theory, research, and applications. Martinus Nijhoff.

This book provides a comprehensive review of social support theory and its application across different domains, including mental health.

Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310-357.

A seminal paper that explores how social support helps buffer the negative effects of stress.

Thoits, P. A. (1995). Stress, coping, and social support processes: Where are we? What next? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 53-79.

This article discusses the state of research on stress and coping, highlighting the importance of social support mechanisms.