title: The Orientation of Social Support measure.
abstract: In this study we proposed and tested the theory that behavior is affected by the orientation of the members of one's social network. We collected data from 98 women (some drug users) with the Orientation of Social Support (OSS) scale and two other widely used measures: the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Drug use was measured with the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Pairwise correlations showed that the OSS had no correlation with the SSQ or the MSPSS. Subjects' ASI scores were regressed on the three measures of support. The only variable that entered stepwise regression was the OSS scale. This study confirmed our theory that it is important to examine the orientation of and not just the extent of social support. The paper provides the questionnaire and the scoring procedures for measurement of extent of peer pressure.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Health Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444, USA. falemi@gmu.edu
authors.forename: Farrokh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alemi
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Llorens
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nemes
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arendt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009949:Orientation / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires