The measurement of social support in the "European Research on Incapacitating Diseases and Social Support": the development of the Social Support Questionnaire for Transactions (SSQT)

Investigated if the SSQT allows for meaningful comparisons between patients with rheumatoid arthritis from different countries and explored the dimensionality and invariance of the SSQT dimensions. Based on types of social support, the authors formulated a series of items to measure actual supportive interactions or exchanges of resources over 5 scales: (daily emotional support, problem-oriented emotional support, and social companionship; and daily instrumental support and problem-oriented instrumental support). 739 Ss (mean age 52.4 yrs) from France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden completed the SSQT; mean disease duration was 2.3 yrs. Analyses yielded the intended scales, although the internal consistency of the daily instrumental support scale is questionable. The SSQT is a useful instrument for international comparative research. (PsycLIT Database Copyright 1995 American Psychological Assn, all rights reserved