Table of Contents
Berlin Social-Support Scales (BSSS)
The Berlin Social-Support Scales (BSSS) are a multidimensional measure of social support that was developed by Ralf Schwarzer and Ute Schulz in 2000. The BSSS is designed to assess both the perceived and received levels of social support in individuals. It has been used in a variety of research settings, including studies of health, stress, and coping.
Description
The BSSS consists of six subscales:
- Perceived emotional support: This subscale assesses the extent to which individuals believe that they have people in their lives who care about them and who they can rely on for emotional support.
- Perceived instrumental support: This subscale assesses the extent to which individuals believe that they have people in their lives who can help them with practical tasks, such as transportation, childcare, and financial assistance.
- Need for support and support seeking: This subscale assesses the extent to which individuals feel the need for social support and how often they seek out support from others.
- Actually received support: This subscale assesses the extent to which individuals have actually received emotional and instrumental support from others in the past month.
- Protective buffering: This subscale assesses the extent to which individuals’ social support helps to buffer them against the negative effects of stress.
Definition
Social support is defined as the availability of resources and assistance from others. It can be provided in a variety of forms, including emotional support, instrumental support, and informational support. Social support has been shown to have a number of benefits for individuals’ physical and mental health, as well as their overall well-being.
History
The BSSS was developed in response to the need for a multidimensional measure of social support that was both reliable and valid. The scales were developed in a series of studies with cancer patients and healthy adults. The BSSS has been translated into a number of languages and has been used in a variety of research settings.
Characteristics
The BSSS has a number of strengths, including:
- It is a multidimensional measure of social support.
- It is reliable and valid.
- It has been used in a variety of research settings.
- It has been translated into a number of languages.
The BSSS also has a few limitations, including:
- It can be time-consuming to administer.
- It may not be appropriate for all populations.
- It may not be sensitive to changes in social support over time.
References
- Schwarzer, R., & Schulz, U. (2000). The Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS): Assessment of social support in coping with stress. In I. G. Sarason, B. R. Sarason, & G. R. Pierce (Eds.), Social support: An interactional view (pp. 43-67). New York: Wiley.
- Schwarzer, R., & Knoll, J. (2007). Measuring social support in health research: A review and critique. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 14(3), 219-236.
- Schulz, U., & Schwarzer, R. (2003). Social support in coping with illness: The Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS). Diagnostica, 49(1), 73-82.
Berlin Social-Support Scales (BSSS)
Originally designed for Coping with Cancer Surgery Settings
Ralf Schwarzer & Ute Schulz‚ 2000
I. Perceived Available Support
Emotional
1.There are some people who truly like me.
2.Whenever I am not feeling well‚ other people show me that they are fond of me.
3. Whenever I am sad‚ there are people who cheer me up.
4. There is always someone there for me when I need comforting.
Instrumental
5. I know some people upon whom I can always rely.
6. When I am worried‚ there is someone who helps me.
7. There are people who offer me help when I need it.
8.When everything becomes too much for me to handle‚ others are there to help me.
II. Need for Support
1. When I am down‚ I need someone who boosts my spirits.
2. It is important for me always to have someone who listens to me.
3. Before making any important decisions‚ I absolutely need a second opinion.
4. I get along best without any outside help. (-)
III. Support Seeking
1. In critical situations‚ I prefer to ask others for their advice.
2. Whenever I am down‚ I look for someone to cheer me up again.
3. When I am worried‚ I reach out to someone to talk to.
4. If I do not know how to handle a situation‚ I ask others what they would do.
5. Whenever I need help‚ I ask for it.
IV. Actually Received Support (Recipient)
Think about the person who is closest to you‚ such as your spouse‚ partner‚ child‚ friend‚ and so on. How did this person react to you during the last week?
1. This person showed me that he/she loves and accepts me. (EMO)
2. This person was there when I needed him/her. (INST)
3. This person comforted me when I was feeling bad. (EMO)
4. This person left me alone. (–) (EMO)
5. This person did not show much empathy for my situation. (–) (EMO)
6. This person complained about me. (–) (EMO)
7. This person took care of many things for me. (INST)
8. This person made me feel valued and important. (EMO)
9. This person expressed concern about my condition. (EMO)
10. This person assured me that I can rely completely on him/her. (EMO)
11. This person helped me find something positive in my situation. (INF)
12. This person suggested activities that might distract me. (INF)
13. This person encouraged me not to give up. (EMO)
14. This person took care of things I could not manage on my own. (INST)
15. In general‚ I am very satisfied with the way this person behaved. (SAT)
- EMO = emotional support
- INST = instrumental support
- INF = informational support
- SAT = satisfaction with support
- EMO = emotional support
- INST = instrumental support
- INF = informational support
- SAT = satisfaction with support
V. Provided Support (Provider)
For a Male Patient
Now think about the patient. How did you interact with him during the past week?
(Note: Negative Items have been eliminated from the 2001 Cancer Surgery Study.)
1. I showed him how much I cherish and accept him. (EMO)
2. I was there when he needed me. (INST)
3. I comforted him when he was feeling bad. (EMO)
4. I left him alone. (EMO)
5. I did not have much empathy for him. (–) (EMO)
6. I criticized him. (–) (EMO)
7. I did a lot for him. (INST)
8. I made him feel valued and important. (EMO)
9. I expressed my concern about his condition. (EMO)
10. I reassured him that he can rely completely on me. (EMO)
11. I helped him find something positive in his situation. (INF)
12. I suggested an activity that might distract him. (INF)
13. I encouraged him not to give up. (EMO)
14. I took care of daily duties that he could not fulfill on his own. (INST)
- EMO = emotional support
- INST = instrumental support
- INF = informational support
VI. Protective Buffering Scale – Support Provider/Support Recipient
1. I kept all bad news from him. (him or her: we print different forms for men and women)
2. I avoided everything that could upset him.
3. I showed strength in his presence.
4. I did not let him notice how bad and depressed I really felt.
5. I avoided any criticism.
6. I pretended to be very strong‚ although I did not feel that way.
This instrument can be found at: http://www.ralfschwarzer.de/
- strongly disagree (1)‚
- somewhat disagree (2)‚
- somewhat agree (3) and
- strongly agree (4).
Negative items need to be reversed.
Psychometric properties of the BSSS have been reported in German in
Schulz‚ U. & Schwarzer‚ R. (2003). Soziale Unterstützung bei der Krankheitsbewältigung. Die Berliner Social Support Skalen (BSSS) [Social support in coping with illness: The Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS)]. Diagnostica‚ 49‚ 73-82.