Sources of Social Support Scale – SSSS
Measures different sources and types (both positive and negative) of social support in health contexts.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Sources of Social Support Scale – SSSS was developed by Charles S. Carver (2006). It is designed to measure Social Support. The scale is intended for use with Individuals dealing with chronic illness (e.g., breast cancer patients).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Positive Support, Negative Support.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Support | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | 6 |
| Negative Support | 7,8,9,10 | 4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all, 2 = A little, 3 = A moderate amount, 4 = A pretty large amount, 5 = A lot.
The scale includes 4 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 10 to 50. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Perceived Support: 10 – 25
- Moderate Perceived Support: 26 – 40
- High Perceived Support: 41 – 50
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
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.