Scale Overview
The Social Support Questionnaire – Short Form (SSQSR) was developed by Sarason, Sarason, Shearin, & Pierce (1987). It is designed to measure Social Support. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Number of Support Sources, Satisfaction with Support.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Number of Support Sources |
1,3,5,7,9,11 |
6 |
| Satisfaction with Support |
2,4,6,8,10,12 |
6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Very Dissatisfied, 2 = Fairly Dissatisfied, 3 = A Little Dissatisfied, 4 = A Little Satisfied, 5 = Fairly Satisfied, 6 = Very Satisfied.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 6. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Satisfaction / Low Support Network Size: 1 – 3
- High Satisfaction / High Support Network Size: 4 – 6
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency (typically alpha > 0.90 for both subscales).
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.