Identifying and Addressing Sources of Measurement Error in the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire

Background and Purpose: The Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) provides a rich portrait of one's perceived social support including network size/composition and quality of support. Analyses of quantitative research reports and critiques of the NSSQ revealed non-negligible measurement error. We document evidence of measurement error, report potential sources of this error, and present forthcoming psychometric testing. Methods: Quantitative evidence of measurement error from the NSSQ literature provided the basis for initial hypotheses concerning sources of error in network nomination and support ratings. We then conducted cognitive interviews to investigate these hypotheses. Results: Cognitive interviews revealed evidence of respondents' miscomprehension and response option bias. Conclusions: The current nomination process coupled with the lack of a “not applicable” response option and embedded examples in tangible Aid items reduces the accuracy of NSSQ subscores.

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Social support networks of older migrants in England and Wales: the role of collectivist culture

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x17000034 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (7) ◽

pp. 1453-1477 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

VANESSA BURHOLT ◽

CHRISTINE DOBBS ◽

CHRISTINA VICTOR

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Latent Profile Analysis ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Network Size ◽

Support Network ◽

England And Wales ◽

Black Caribbean ◽

Multigenerational Household

ABSTRACTThis article tests the fit of a social support network typology developed for collectivist cultures to six migrant populations living in England and Wales. We examine the predictive utility of the typology to identify networks most vulnerable to poor quality of life and loneliness. Variables representing network size, and the proportion of the network classified by gender, age, kin and proximity, were used in confirmatory and exploratory latent profile analysis to fit models to the data (N = 815; Black African, Black Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Chinese). Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between demographic variables and network types. Linear regression examined associations between network types and wellbeing outcomes. A four-profile model was selected.Multigenerational Household: Younger Familynetworks were most robust with lowest levels of loneliness and greatest quality of life.Restricted Non-kinnetworks were least robust.Multigenerational Household: Younger Familynetworks were most prevalent for all but the Black Caribbean migrants. The typology is able to differentiate between networks with multigenerational households and can help identify vulnerable networks. There are implications for forecasting formal services and variation in networks between cultures. The use of a culturally appropriate typology could impact on the credibility of gerontological research.

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No children in later life, but more and better friends? Substitution mechanisms in the personal and support networks of parents and the childless in Germany

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x15000197 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (7) ◽

pp. 1339-1363 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

SEBASTIAN SCHNETTLER ◽

THOMAS WÖHLER

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Life Support ◽

Age Groups ◽

Size Composition ◽

Later Life ◽

Relative Effect ◽

Network Size ◽

Support Networks ◽

Social Scientists ◽

Care Services

ABSTRACTGiven increases in childlessness, we ask if and how the permanently childless substitute for adult children in their later-life support networks. Previous research finds that they are disadvantaged on several network and support indicators. Yet, the role of different substitution mechanisms remains unclear. We examine two substitution mechanisms: substitution through adjustments of network size/composition and through higher efficiency of personal ties. Data are from the German Ageing Survey (childless: N = 1,886; parents without/with residentially proximate children: N = 4,437/8,337). Our descriptive and regression results on network size/composition and the number of potential informational and emotional supporters show that both mechanisms play a role: the childless have more friends and extended kin, and they are more likely to consider them as potential supporters, than parents. Across cohorts or age groups, the relative effect size of network size/composition versus tie efficiency changes. Parents with no children nearby constitute a mixed type that shows similarities to the childless on some indicators of social support and to parents with at least one child nearby on other indicators. Our findings provide a foundation for better predicting how current demographic trends affect future scenarios of social support in later life and for identifying the future need for formal care services. Thus, they are relevant for social scientists and policy makers alike.

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Testing ActiveYou II: Applying Cognitive Interviews in Improving Item Quality and Applicability of a Web-Based, Self-Report Instrument on Participation in Children with Disabilities

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094768 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4768

Author(s):

Friedolin Steinhardt ◽

Reidun Jahnsen ◽

Anne-Stine Dolva ◽

Anna Ullenhag

Keyword(s):

Development Process ◽

Children With Disabilities ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Psychometric Testing ◽

Self Report ◽

Cognitive Interviews ◽

Web Based ◽

Item Quality ◽

Response Alternatives

Background: Children and youth with disabilities participate less in leisure activities than their nondisabled peers. Increasing participation is a primary goal of rehabilitation interventions. However, valid measures that include the individual’s perspectives and facilitating and hindering factors for participation are lacking in the Norwegian setting. In this study, ActiveYou II, a self-report, web-based instrument under development, was tested to obtain item quality and applicability. Methods: Nine children with disabilities participated in cognitive interviews, testing a first set of ActiveYou II items. The verbal probe method for cognitive interviews was applied. Results: The children’s comprehension and responses through cognitive interviews improved the applicability and item quality of ActiveYou II. Item adjustments were made to the wording of the questions and response alternatives, and the number of response alternatives were decreased where appropriate. Conclusions: The use of cognitive interviews with children before performing further psychometric testing has been very useful in the development process of ActiveYou II. Adjustments of the questions and response alternatives were made accordingly.

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Tests of Revisions to the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire

SAGE Open Medicine ◽

10.1177/2050312120911293 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 205031212091129

Author(s):

Eileen Gigliotti ◽

William Ellery Samuels

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Missing Data ◽

Network Size ◽

Future Research ◽

Chi Square ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Response Option ◽

Data Rates ◽

The Difference ◽

Tests Of Independence

Objectives: To compare the accuracy of averaged scores from the original Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ)and averaged scores from each of three new NSSQ versions (NSSQ-R.aid, NSSQ-R.n/a, and NSSQ-R.format). These three new versions of the widely used NSSQ were developed to address three previously identified concerns regarding score accuracy: the Aid subscale’s examples of aid, lack of an n/a response option, and the network nomination/rating procedure. Missing data rates were also assessed. Methods: A convenience sample ( N = 223) completed one of the four NSSQ versions. Score accuracy (restriction) was assessed by size of correlation between averaged scores (averaged score/network size) and network size, with low correlations indicating less score restriction and higher score accuracy. Fisher’s r-to- z transformations assessed the significance of the difference between all correlations from the three versions. Missing data rates were assessed using chi-square tests of independence. Results: The cumulative effects of removing the aid examples and use of the n/a response option improved score accuracy; averaged Aid scores from the NSSQ-R.n/a were statistically significantly less restricted than corresponding scores on the original NSSQ. The final version (NSSQ-R.format) actually resulted in statistically significant decreased score accuracy for averaged Affect scores. There were no statistically significant differences in missing data rates among versions. Conclusion: Averaged scores from the NSSQ-R.n/a should be used. Future research should focus on the use of situation-specific Aid items.

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Extraverts Have Larger Social Network Layers

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000048 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 161-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

Thomas V. Pollet ◽

Sam G. B. Roberts ◽

Robin I. M. Dunbar

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Outer Layer ◽

Network Size ◽

Emotional Intensity ◽

Emotional Closeness ◽

Network Layer ◽

Network Layers ◽

Social Network Size

Previous studies showed that extraversion influences social network size. However, it is unclear how extraversion affects the size of different layers of the network, and how extraversion relates to the emotional intensity of social relationships. We examined the relationships between extraversion, network size, and emotional closeness for 117 individuals. The results demonstrated that extraverts had larger networks at every layer (support clique, sympathy group, outer layer). The results were robust and were not attributable to potential confounds such as sex, though they were modest in size (raw correlations between extraversion and size of network layer, .20 < r < .23). However, extraverts were not emotionally closer to individuals in their network, even after controlling for network size. These results highlight the importance of considering not just social network size in relation to personality, but also the quality of relationships with network members.

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A Study on a Correlation between Social Support Related to Oral Health on the Quality of Life Related to Oral Health in High School Students

The Korean Society for Multicultural Health ◽

10.33502/jksmh.9.2.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Mi Young Gwon ◽

Eun Seon Park

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Oral Health ◽

School Students

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Penatalaksanaan IMD pada Ibu Postpartum Sectio Caesarea Mempengaruhi Status Gizi dan Kecepatan Produksi ASI

Jurnal Bidan Cerdas (JBC) ◽

10.33860/jbc.v2i2.68 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 112-120

Author(s):

Nursari Abdul Syukur ◽

Susi Purwanti

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Milk Production ◽

Quantitative Research ◽

Milk Protein ◽

Sectio Caesarea ◽

Control Group ◽

P Value ◽

Study Results

Many mothers who give birth to Sectio Caesarea (SC) do not Initiate Early Breastfeeding (IMD), which fails exclusive breastfeeding. This study aimed to determine the effect of IMD management in postpartum SC mothers on nutritional status, speed of milk production, and quality of breast milk protein. Method: quantitative research with quasi approach experiment. The research design used was a pre-post-test control non-equivalent control group. A sampling of this study used the Consecutive method sampling with a sample of 20 mothers who gave birth by cesarean section (SC). Hypothesis testing uses the independent t-test and the Mann-Whitney test. The study results showed an influence on the management of IMD in postpartum SC mothers on the speed of ASI production (p-value=0.004) and nutritional status (p-value=0.028). There was no effect of IMD management on postpartum SC mothers on the quality of breast milk protein (p-value = 0.543). This study recommends that the hospital implement an IMD promotion program before the abdominal wall is closed as a form of intervention to increase milk production and maternal nutritional status

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