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Abbreviating the Duke Social Support Index for Use in Chronically Ill Elderly Individuals
Harold G. Koenig ,
Ron E. Westlund ,
Linda K. George ,
Dana C. Hughes ,
Dan G. Blazer ,
Celia Hybels
January 1993
January 1993
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Abstract
The 35-item Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) measures multiple dimensions of social
support and has been used extensively in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies
of aging. Epidemiological studies of chronically ill, frail elderly individuals often
wish to include a measure of social support. However, most multidimensional measures
(including the DSSI) are long and may exhaust the patient, especially when included
in an often already congested interview schedule. The authors have developed two abbreviated
versions of the DSSI (23-item and 11-item) that capture the essential components of
social support related to mental health outcomes and use of health services in treating
elderly individuals with nonpsychiatric medical illness.