The Validity and Reliability of the Perceived Available Support Scale

Abstract

Many scales have been developed to measure social support which is an important area of research. The purpose of this study is to determine the validity and reliability of Perceived Available Support Scale (PASS) which was developed by Schulz and Schwarzer (2003). The Turkish version of PASS was administered to 425 college students in two different studies. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for the scale reached an adequate conformity value. As a result, the scale's factor structure with two subscales of emotional and instrumental was confirmed. Correlation coefficient between anxiety and depression scales with the PASS is computed. A negative significant correlation was found between the PASS with the scores of anxiety and depression scales. Also, there was a positive correlation between PASS and its subscales and the scales of psychological well-being. Nevertheless, the results of item-total correlations (r= .40-.78), Cronbach Alfa (.83) and test-retest reliability (.77) showed adequate satisfactory values. Şahin KAPIKIRAN, Necla ACUN KAPIKIRAN 52 SUMMARY Social support has been the focus of many disciplines, such as psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing, public health and sociology. Social support has four dimensions: emotional, cognitional, social relations and instrumental.