title: [Evaluation of the short-form social support questionnaire (SOZU-K-22) in clinical and non-clinical samples].
abstract: Three versions (22-item, 10-item, and 7-item) of the social support questionnaire (F-SOZU) were psychometrically evaluated in two clinical and three non-clinical Austrian samples. The distribution of sum scores in all three versions was negatively skewed; means on the item-level were in the upper region of the five-point scale (M > 4.0) in all non-clinical samples. Internal consistency estimates were found to be satisfying for the total test scores (alpha > 0.85). The 10-item and the 7-item forms correlated highly with the 22-item form total score (r > 0.90). Principal components analysis supported a one dimensional solution in all forms. The discussion focuses on the problem of the highly skewed test scores. It is also argued that the use of the 7-item version might be preferable and more efficient if the researcher is only interested in obtaining a global score for perceived social support.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrisches Krankenhaus des Landes Tirol, Hall i. T., Osterreich. klinische.forschung1@tilak.or.at
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dunkel
authors.forename: Elfi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antretter
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fröhlich-Walser
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haring
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires