Reciprocal Support Scale (RSS)

Reciprocal Support Scale (RSS) 2018-07-25T16:10:58-04:00

Reciprocal Support Scale (RSS)

Description: A measure of social support (received and given). Individuals rate the frequency with which they receive four types of support: social interaction, material assistance, emotional support, and nonpaid personal assistance [1].

Format: 8 items ranked on a seven-point scale (1 = never; 7 = always) on each type of support received from families, friends, and community. As well, the frequency with which upsetting things happen between the respondents and members of their family, their friends, or their community are recorded.

Scoring: Not available.

Administration and Burden: Interviewer-administered; Self-administered. Approximately 10 – 15 minutes.

Psychometrics for SCI: Alpha coefficients from a spinal cord injury (SCI) sample ranged from .70 to .76 for the four types of support, with an average of .73. The alpha for the upsets scale was only .55; however, low internal consistency is expected given that the scale sums interactions with three groups of people (family, friends, and community).

Language(s): English.

QoL Concept: The RSS is a measure of Subjective Well-Being (Social Support), which corresponds to Boxes C (achievements) and E (subjective evaluations and reactions) of Dijker’s Model.

Permissions/Where to Obtain: Not available.

 

**CLICK ON THE LISTED SECONDARY HEALTH CONDITIONS ON THE RIGHT TO READ HOW THE RSS HAS BEEN USED WITH A PARTICULAR CONDITION**

 

References:

  1. Anson CA, Stanwyck DJ, Krause JS. Social support and health status in spinal cord injury. Int J Paraplegia 1993;31:632-8.