Skalen zur Sozialen Unterstützung bei Krankheit (SSUK) –
Testtheoretische Überprüfung und Validierung an einer
repräsentativen Stichprobe von Brustkrebspatientinnen
Abstract: Objectives: The Illness-specific Social Support Scale (ISSS),
originally developed by Revenson and Schiaffino (1990), has been adapted to the
German language (SSUK) by Ramm and Hasenbring (2003) for N = 154 patients with
malignant haematological diseases. Aim of the study is the validation of the
SSUK on a considerable group of breast cancer patients. Methods: The SSUK has been psychometrically re-examined on
representative samples of N = 1181 breast cancer patients. Results: Factor- and reliability analysis confirm the two scales
Positive Support and Detrimental Interaction and show internal consistencies
with Cronbachs α = 0,94 and 0,76. Validity of the SSUK was
examined using the questionnaire "Fragebogen zur Sozialen
Unterstützung" (F-SOZU-K22) i. a., which showed significant correlations
with the scales Positive Support (r = 0,74, p < 0,001) and Detrimental
Interaction (r = .0,41, p < 0,001). Correlations with other instruments,
e.g. HADS-D and SF-8, refer to good construct validity. Conclusion: Due to high internal consistencies as well as convincing
criterion and construct validity the SSUK can be recommended for further use
for chronic ill people.
Keywords: Social support, SSUK, breast cancer, psychometric analysis
