Scale Overview
The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List 12 – ISEL-12 was developed by Sheldon Cohen, Robin Mermelstein, Thomas Kamarck, and Harry Hoberman (1985). It is designed to measure Perceived Social Support. The scale is intended for use with Adults and college students.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Appraisal, Belonging, Tangible.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Appraisal |
2,4,6,11 |
4 |
| Belonging |
1,5,7,9 |
4 |
| Tangible |
3,8,10,12 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Definitely False, 1 = Probably False, 2 = Probably True, 3 = Definitely True.
The scale includes 6 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 0 to 36. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Perceived Support: 0 – 12
- Moderate Perceived Support: 13 – 24
- High Perceived Support: 25 – 36
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha = 0.77 – 0.90.
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.