Social Network Index (SNI)
Assesses participation in 12 types of social relationships, measuring network diversity, size, and embeddedness.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Social Network Index (SNI) was developed by Sheldon Cohen (1997). It is designed to measure Social Network Diversity and Size. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 23 items organized into 12 factors/subscales: Spouse, Children, Parents, In-laws, Relatives, Friends, Religious Groups, School, Work, Neighbors, Volunteer Work, Other Groups.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | 1 | 1 |
| Children | 2,3 | 2 |
| Parents | 4,5 | 2 |
| In-laws | 6,7 | 2 |
| Relatives | 8,9 | 2 |
| Friends | 10,11 | 2 |
| Religious Groups | 12,13 | 2 |
| School | 14,15 | 2 |
| Work | 16,17,18 | 3 |
| Neighbors | 19 | 1 |
| Volunteer Work | 20,21 | 2 |
| Other Groups | 22,23 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = 0 / No, 1 = 1 / Yes, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 6 = 6, 7 = 7 or more.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 12. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Network Diversity: 0 – 3
- Moderate Network Diversity: 4 – 8
- High Network Diversity: 9 – 12
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of N/A.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.