Social Support Index (SSI)

Abstract

The Social Support Index (SSI) is a widely utilized self-report measure designed to quantify an individual’s perception of the availability, quality, and adequacy of their social support network. Developed by McCubbin, Patterson, and Glynn in 1982, the SSI is particularly relevant in the context of Family Resilience and coping research, assessing support across critical domains, primarily focusing on family cohesion and community integration. It helps researchers and clinicians understand the protective factors available to individuals and families facing significant stress or life transitions.

Keywords

Social Support Index, Social Support, Family Assessment, Community Cohesion, Resilience, Coping Mechanisms, Psychological Measurement, Family Resilience

Authors

H.I. McCubbin, J. Patterson, T. Glynn

Purpose

The primary purpose of the SSI is to systematically measure the extent to which an individual perceives they are loved, valued, and supported by key groups in their life, namely their immediate family and the broader community. This measurement is crucial for predicting adjustment outcomes and understanding how social resources buffer the impact of stress.

The instrument is often employed in clinical practice and research settings involving families undergoing chronic illness, disability, or major life stressors, providing a comprehensive view of the relational resources available to foster Social Support and facilitate adaptation.

Construct

The SSI measures the Psychological construct of Social Support, which is understood as a multidimensional construct encompassing both emotional and instrumental resources derived from social networks. The scale captures two major dimensions of support: support derived from the family unit (e.g., love, understanding, sacrifice) and support derived from the community (e.g., trust, security, perceived availability of help).

The items reflect both positive perceptions of support availability and negative perceptions (which are reverse-scored), ensuring a balanced assessment of the relationship quality and the perceived effectiveness of the support system in times of need.

Validity

Initial studies establishing the SSI demonstrated acceptable levels of construct validity, particularly through its differentiation between families experiencing high levels of stress versus those exhibiting strong coping abilities. The SSI has been shown to correlate meaningfully with other measures of family functioning and stress outcomes, indicating that it accurately captures the intended construct of perceived support availability.

Subsequent research has supported the SSI’s validity across diverse populations, confirming its utility as an indicator of protective factors within the family and community environment when examining issues such as adolescent development and chronic health management.

Reliability

The reliability of the Social Support Index is typically reported as high, indicating good internal consistency. Early psychometric analyses, as noted in the original development, often revealed Cronbach’s alpha coefficients in the acceptable to strong range (e.g., 0.70 to 0.85). This suggests that the 17 items consistently measure the same underlying concept of perceived support.

The scale’s reliability makes it a stable measure for use in longitudinal studies assessing changes in support structures over time, especially within the context of family interventions or periods of extended stress.

Factor Analysis

Factor analyses conducted on the SSI generally support a multidimensional structure, aligning with the developers’ intent to measure distinct sources of support. Although the scale is often used to yield a single total score of perceived social support, factor solutions typically identify at least two primary factors:

• Family Support/Cohesion: Items related to mutual understanding, affection, and sacrifice within the immediate family unit.
• Community Support/Integration: Items reflecting trust, security, and the perceived willingness of neighbors or community members to provide help.

This factor structure allows researchers to analyze the specific impact of different support sources on various psychological outcomes.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire

Format: 17 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale.

Language Available: Primarily English (Translations may exist depending on specific research contexts).

Population Group: Individuals and Families

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (Typically used with a family member reporting on perceived support).

Population Details: Originally validated on samples relevant to family assessment and stress research.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement using the following response format: 1=Strongly Disagree, 2= Disagree, 3= Neutral, 4= Agree, 5= Strongly Agree. Several items are reverse scored to mitigate response bias.

Keywords

Social Support Index, McCubbin, Family Stress, Community Support, Social Support, Psychological Scale, Family Resilience, Coping, Likert scale

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source materials; requires consultation of current academic databases.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source materials.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence is typically directed through the primary authors’ institutional affiliations at the time of publication or through the McCubbin Resilience Center.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The SSI was developed in 1982. The instrument is often available for non-commercial academic use, particularly through materials associated with the McCubbin Resilience Center. Researchers should consult the official instrument website for the most current information regarding permissions and associated fees.

Reference’s

• McCubbin, H.I., Patterson, J., & Glynn, T. (1982). Social Support Index (SSI). In H.I. McCubbin, A.I. Thompson, & M.A. McCubbin (Eds., 1996), Family assessment: Resiliency, coping and adaptation-Inventories for research and practice (pp. 357-389). Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin System.
• Fischer, Joel., Corcoran, Kevin J. (2007). Measures for Clinical Practice and research: A sourcebook. (4th ed.). NY. Oxford University Pr. Vol. 1, Page (s): 413- 414.
• The instrument can also be found at the official research site: http://www.mccubbinresilience.org/measures.html

Items of the Social Support Index (SSI)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. If I had an emergency, even people I do not know in this community would be willing to help
2. I feel good about myself when I sacrifice and give time and energy to members of my family
3. The things I do for members of my family and they do for me make me feel part of this very important group
4. People here know they can get help from the community if they are in trouble
5. I have friends who let me know they value who I am and what I can do
6. People can depend on each other in this community
7. Members of my family seldom listen to my problems or concerns; I usually feel criticized.*
8. My friends in this community are part of my everyday activities
9. There are times when family members do things that make other members unhappy.*
10. I need to be very careful of how much I do for my friends because they take advantage of me.*
11. Living in this community gives me a secure feeling
12. The members of my family make an effort to show their love and affections for me
13. There is a feeling in this community that people should not get too friendly with each other.*
14. This is not a very good community to bring children up in. *
15. I feel secure that I am as important to my friends as they are to me
16. I have some very close friends outside the family who I know really care for me and love me
17. Member(s) of my family do not seem to understand me; I feel taken for granted.*

* Reverse scored

Scoring Key: 1=Strongly Disagree, 2= Disagree, 3= Neutral, 4= Agree, 5= Strongly Agree.