Validation of the DSSI-10 to Measure Social Support in a General Population

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to validate the 10-item DSSI as a brief measure of social support for use in diverse adult populations. Methods: EFA was performed on 2010 Arizona Health Survey (AHS) data (n = 8215). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) then confirmed the factors structure by gender, ethnicity, and age, as well as for the total population. DSSI-10 and subscales were compared with variables related to social support. Results: CFI confirms this structure exhibits a good model fit. Low self-reported health status and low self-reported quality of life were related to lower DSSI scores. Living alone was significantly negatively related to the DSSI-10. Conclusions: Researchers may confidently use DSSI-10 to measure social support for diverse adult populations. This instrument can be used in epidemiological studies to increase understanding of mental and physical health in relationship to social supports in the general population.