Objective
to adapt and validate the Instrumental Expressive Social Support Scale (IESS) in a sample of older people.
Method
methodological study. The sample of 964 community-dwelling older people was randomly divided into two groups. The first group was used as a calibration sample to study the number of factors underlying social support through Principal Axis Factoring, and the second group as a validation sample to test the “best fit” model through Confirmatory Factor Analysis.
Results
exploratory Factor Analysis suggested a three-factor solution, which was confirmed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The factors were similar to those in the pre-existing dimensions of the original instrument and were named as Sense of control (α = 0.900), Financial support (α = 0.802), Familiar and socio-affective support (α = 0.778). Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed acceptable fit. The model’s goodness-of-fit indexes were satisfactory (χ2/df = 5.418; CFI = 0.903; NFI = 0.884; RMSEA = 0.098). The convergent validity was supported by associations between social support and medication adherence and positive affect. The discriminant validity was evidenced by association with negative affect. The reliability analysis showed high values of internal consistency.
Conclusion
the instrument proved to be a valid measure for the assessment of social support in older people.
Validation Studies; Factor Analysis; Statistical; Social Support; Geriatric Nursing; Affect; Medication Adherence
*SS – Social Support; †F1 – Factor 1 (Familiar and socio-affective support); ǂF2 – Factor 2 (Financial support); §F3 – Factor 3 (Sense of control); ||QSS_2 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 2; ¶QSS_3 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 3; **QSS_5 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 5; ††QSS_6 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 6; ‡‡QSS_13 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 13; §§QSS_14 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 14; ||||QSS_15 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 15; ¶¶QSS_19 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 19; ***QSS_20 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 20; †††QSS_1 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 1; ‡‡‡QSS_7 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 7; §§§QSS_11 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 11; ||||||QSS_16 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 16; ¶¶¶QSS_17 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 17; ****QSS_18 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 18; ††††QSS_10 – Questionnaire of Social Support – item number 10; ‡‡‡‡e1 – Error 1; §§§§e2 – Error 2; ||||||||e3 – Error 3; ¶¶¶¶e4 – Error 4; *****e5 – Error 5; †††††e6 – Error 6; ‡‡‡‡‡e7 – Error 7; §§§§§e8 – Error 8; ||||||||||e9 – Error 9; ¶¶¶¶¶e10 – Error 10; ******e11 – Error 11; ††††††e12 – Error 12; ‡‡‡‡‡‡e13 – Error 13; §§§§§§e14 – Error 14; ||||||||||||e15 – Error 15; ¶¶¶¶¶¶e16 – Error 16; *******CFA – Confirmatory Factor Analysis