Psychology RootsBerlin Social Support Scales
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Berlin Social Support Scales”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Berlin Social Support Scales
Scale Name
Berlin Social Support Scales
Author Details
Ralf Schwarzer and Ute Schulz
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS), developed by Ralf Schwarzer and Ute Schulz in 2000, offer a comprehensive way to assess social support in various research settings. Social support refers to the network of resources and assistance we receive from others, impacting our physical and mental well-being. Recognizing its importance, the BSSS goes beyond a simple yes/no and delves deeper into different aspects.
The BSSS is a multidimensional tool consisting of six subscales. The first three assess perceived social support. They explore how much individuals believe they have people to rely on for emotional support (perceived emotional support), practical help (perceived instrumental support), and how often they feel the need and actively seek such support (need for support and support seeking).
The BSSS then dives into the actuality of received support. The “actually received support” subscale measures the emotional and practical support individuals have genuinely received in a specific timeframe. This provides a valuable contrast to perceived support.
Finally, the BSSS examines how social support functions as a buffer. The “protective buffering” subscale assesses how effectively an individual’s social network shields them from the negative effects of stress. This multifaceted approach allows researchers to gain a nuanced understanding of social support’s role in various contexts.
The BSSS’s strength lies in its ability to capture not just the existence of a social network, but the quality and effectiveness of the support it provides. This detailed picture proves valuable in research on health, stress, coping mechanisms, and overall well-being.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Ensure you have a copy of the BSSS questionnaire for each participant, preferably in their preferred language (the BSSS is available in various languages).
- Prepare a writing utensil (pen or pencil) for each participant.
- Briefly introduce yourself and explain the purpose of the study, making it clear that participation is voluntary and anonymous.
- Explain that the BSSS asks about their social support network.
- Provide clear instructions on how to complete the questionnaire.
- Explain the response format, typically a 4-point Likert scale (e.g., strongly disagree, somewhat disagree, somewhat agree, strongly agree).
- Emphasize the importance of answering honestly and to the best of their knowledge.
- Distribute the questionnaires and writing utensils to participants.
- Allow participants ample time to complete the BSSS (approximately 20 minutes).
- Be available to answer any questions they may have during the process, but avoid influencing their answers.
Reliability and Validity
The Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS) generally show good evidence for both reliability and validity, making it a valuable tool in research. Here’s a breakdown of these aspects:
- Internal consistency: Studies have shown strong internal consistency within each subscale of the BSSS. This means the items within each subscale measure the same underlying concept well.
- Test-retest reliability: While less research has been done, some studies suggest the BSSS provides stable scores over time, particularly for the subscales measuring perceived social support (e.g., emotional support).
- Content validity: The BSSS covers a wide range of social support aspects, including perceived support, received support, and its buffering effect. This suggests it captures the intended construct comprehensively.
- Convergent validity: Scores from the BSSS correlate with other measures of social support, indicating they capture similar concepts.
- Discriminant validity: Scores on the BSSS don’t simply reflect general well-being or social desirability. They show distinct patterns when compared to measures of these other constructs.
Available Versions
Maltiple-Items
Reference
DiMillo, J., Hall, N. C., Ezer, H., Schwarzer, R., & Körner, A. (2019). The Berlin Social Support Scales: Validation of the Received Support Scale in a Canadian sample of patients affected by melanoma. Journal of Health Psychology, 24(13), 1785-1795.
Schwarzer, R., & Schulz, U. (2003). Soziale unterstützung bei Der krankheitsbewältigung: die Berliner social support skalen (bsss). Diagnostica, 49(2), 73-82.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BSSS?
A tool to measure different aspects of social support.
What does it assess?
Perceived emotional and practical support, need for and seeking of support, received support, and buffering effect of support.
How is it administered?
Self-administered questionnaire with a Likert scale.
Is it reliable?
Yes, it shows good internal consistency within subscales.
Is it valid?
Yes, it shows content, convergent, and discriminant validity. However, some limitations exist.
What are the limitations?
Focus on stressful situations, social desirability bias, limited assessment of negative interactions.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at [email protected]. We help others on behalf of you.
