Social Provisions Scale – SPS
Measures the degree to which an individual's social relationships provide various dimensions of social support.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Social Provisions Scale – SPS was developed by Daniel W. Russell & Carolyn E. Cutrona (1984). It is designed to measure Social Support. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 24 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Attachment, Social Integration, Reassurance of Worth, Reliable Alliance, Guidance, Opportunity for Nurturance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment | 2,11,17,21 | 4 |
| Social Integration | 5,8,14,22 | 4 |
| Reassurance of Worth | 6,9,13,20 | 4 |
| Reliable Alliance | 1,10,18,23 | 4 |
| Guidance | 3,12,16,19 | 4 |
| Opportunity for Nurturance | 4,7,15,24 | 4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Agree, 4 = Strongly Agree.
The scale includes 12 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 24 to 96. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Social Support: 24 – 48
- Moderate Social Support: 49 – 72
- High Social Support: 73 – 96
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.