RAND Social Health Battery

RAND Social Health Battery (RSHB)

The RAND Social Health Battery (RSHB) is a self-report questionnaire that measures social health. Social health is a broad concept that encompasses a variety of factors, including social support, social engagement, and social well-being.

The RSHB was developed by the RAND Corporation in the early 1970s. The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization that was founded in 1948. The RSHB was developed as part of a larger study on the social and psychological factors that contribute to health and well-being.

The RSHB is a 12-item questionnaire. The items on the RSHB ask people to rate their social support, social engagement, and social well-being. For example, one item asks people to rate how often they feel lonely. Another item asks people to rate how satisfied they are with their social life.

The RSHB has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of social health. It has been used in a variety of research studies to examine the relationship between social health and a variety of other variables, such as physical health, mental health, and quality of life.

History of the RSHB

The RSHB was developed by the RAND Corporation in the early 1970s. The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization that was founded in 1948. The RSHB was developed as part of a larger study on the social and psychological factors that contribute to health and well-being.

The RSHB was first published in 1974 in a book titled “Social Indicators of Well-Being.” The book was edited by M. Bruce Stokes and others. The RSHB was one of the first measures of social health to be developed.

Characteristics of the RSHB

The RSHB is a 12-item questionnaire. The items on the RSHB ask people to rate their social support, social engagement, and social well-being. For example, one item asks people to rate how often they feel lonely. Another item asks people to rate how satisfied they are with their social life.

The RSHB has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of social health. It has been used in a variety of research studies to examine the relationship between social health and a variety of other variables, such as physical health, mental health, and quality of life.

Other Related Terms

• Social support: Social support is the network of relationships that provide people with emotional, informational, and tangible assistance. Social support can come from family, friends, neighbors, and other members of the community.
• Social engagement: Social engagement is the extent to which people participate in social activities. Social engagement can include activities such as volunteering, attending religious services, and socializing with friends and family.
• Social well-being: Social well-being is a person’s sense of satisfaction with their social relationships and their place in society. Social well-being is influenced by a variety of factors, such as social support, social engagement, and social status.

Sources

• **Stokes, M. B., & others. (1974). Social indicators of well-being. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
• **House, J. S., Landis, K. R., & Umberson, D. (1988). Social support, stress, and health. Science, 241, 585-589.
• **Cohen, S. (2004). Social relationships and health. American Psychologist, 59, 676-684.

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