Scale Overview
The Social Support Questionnaire – Short Form (SSQSR) was developed by Irwin G. Sarason, Barbara R. Sarason, Edward N. Shearin, Gregory R. 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 Supporters (SSQN), Satisfaction (SSQS).
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Number of Supporters (SSQN) |
1,3,5,7,9,11 |
6 |
| Satisfaction (SSQS) |
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 (Average score per item): 1 – 3
- High Satisfaction (Average score per item): 4 – 6
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.90 to 0.93 (SSQN), 0.89 to 0.93 (SSQS).
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.