Psychology RootsStructured and Scaled Interview to Assess Maladjustment
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About Structured and Scaled Interview to Assess Maladjustment
Scale Name
Structured and Scaled Interview to Assess Maladjustment
Author Details
Barry J. Gurland
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Structured and Scaled Interview to Assess Maladjustment (SSIAM), developed by Barry J. Gurland in 1972, is a 60-item semistructured interview designed to assess social role performance and maladjustment in adults suitable for outpatient psychotherapy. Published in Archives of General Psychiatry (1972), it draws from Parloff’s 1954 Social Ineffectiveness Scale and aims to evaluate the effectiveness of psychiatric treatment by measuring objective (e.g., role performance) and subjective (e.g., satisfaction) facets of maladjustment, including distress, deviant behavior, and interpersonal friction. The SSIAM also accounts for environmental influences on maladjustment. It covers five fields: Work, Social Relations, Family, Marriage, and Sex, with 45 items assessing deviant behavior (5 per field), friction (1 per field), and distress (3 per field). An additional 15 items rate environmental stress, prognosis, willingness to change, and positive mental health.
Each item includes a caption, an open-ended question, and a 5-point scale with unique anchoring definitions (0 = reasonable adjustment, 4 = maximum disturbance). Interviewers match responses to predefined phrases or use forced-choice between two options. Scores (0–10) are summed for each field or by theme (deviant behavior, friction, distress), with higher scores indicating greater maladjustment. The SSIAM was validated with 164 adults (mean age ≈ 20–50 years, 70% students, mixed gender, U.S.-based), correlating with informant ratings (r ≈ 0.30–0.50) and psychiatric evaluations (r = 0.21–0.41). It is used in clinical psychology and psychiatry to assess psychotherapy outcomes. Access requires permission from Archives of General Psychiatry.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the SSIAM from Gurland et al. (1972) or Archives of General Psychiatry, ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (adults 18+ suitable for outpatient psychotherapy) that the interview assesses social maladjustment and role performance, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 60-item semistructured interview in clinical or research settings by a trained interviewer (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist), using open-ended questions and rating responses over the past four months.
- Estimated completion time is ~30 minutes.
- Ensure a private, supportive environment; provide mental health resources (e.g., counseling services) and adapt for accessibility (e.g., simplified language) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The SSIAM demonstrates robust psychometric properties (Gurland et al., 1972). Inter-rater reliability for six factor scores (N = 15, rated by three psychiatrists) ranges from intraclass correlations of 0.78–0.97, with no significant rater differences except for minor variations in social isolation and nonfamily friction. Internal consistency is not reported but inferred as moderate (Cronbach’s alpha ≈ 0.70–0.80) based on scale structure. Factor analysis (N = 164) identifies six factors from 21 of 33 subjective items: social isolation, work inadequacy, family friction, family dependence, sexual dissatisfaction, and nonfamily friction.
Convergent validity is supported by significant agreement with informant ratings (N = 89) for all factors except sexual dissatisfaction, and correlations with psychiatric evaluations (r = 0.21–0.41) and the Social Stress and Functioning Inventory for Psychotic Disorders (r = 0.45, N = 100). Discriminant validity is evidenced by distinguishing schizophrenic subtypes and detecting pre-post psychotherapy changes. Pairing with the Present State Examination or Katz Adjustment Scales enhances comprehensive assessment.
Available Versions
60-Items
Reference
Gurland, B. J., Yorkston, N. J., Stone, A. R., Frank, J. D., & Fleiss, J. L. (1972). The structured and scaled interview to assess maladjustment (SSIAM): I. Description, rationale, and development. Archives of General Psychiatry, 27(2), 259-264.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Structured and Scaled Interview to Assess Maladjustment measure?
It measures social maladjustment in role performance, distress, deviant behavior, and friction across five fields.
Who is the target population?
Adults (18+) suitable for outpatient psychotherapy, primarily with neurotic disorders.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 30 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it evaluates maladjustment to guide psychotherapy outcomes.
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