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 experiencing chronic illness (e.g., 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.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
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.