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A factorial analysis of a compound measure of social support
Author(s) -
Reis Janet
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(198811)44:6<876::aid-jclp2270440607>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - psychology , factorial , measure (data warehouse) , factorial analysis , social psychology , statistics , mathematics , data mining , computer science , mathematical analysis
A confirmatory factor analysis of an internally consistent compound measure of social support is presented for a volunteer sample of 740 low‐income, predominantly single, young mothers. Five factors with eigenvalues greater than one emerged and accounted for 55% of the variance. The convergent validity of the empirically identified factors of estrangement, confidant, shorterm help, support/encouragement, and crisis intervention was explored through intercorrelations with five variables theoretically related to familty and child well being. Level of depressive symptomology correlated most significantly and consistently with low levels of social support. The results of the analysis are discussed in light of previous psychometric analyses of comparable measure of social support and what is known of the coping response of young mothers to stress.