The Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) is a 3-item self-reported measure of the level of social support. It consists of three items that ask for the number of close confidants, the sense of concern from other people, and the relationship with neighbors with a focus on the accessibility of practical help.
Geographies Tested: Germany
Populations Included: Female, Male
Age Range: Adults
1.How many people are so close to you that you can count on them if you have great personal problems?
Response Options:
‘none’
‘1–2’
‘3–5’
‘5+’
2.How much interest and concern do people show in what you do?
Response Options:
‘none’
‘little’
‘uncertain’
‘some’
‘a lot’
3.How easy is it to get practical help from neigh- bors if you should need it?
Response Options:
very difficult’
‘difficult’
‘possible’
‘easy’
‘very easy’
The sum score ranges from 3 to 14, with high values representing strong levels and low values representing poor levels of social support. The OSSS-3 sum score can be operationalized into three broad categories of social support: a) 3–8 poor social support, b) 9–11 moderate social support, c) 12–14 strong social support.
Kocalevent, R. D., Berg, L., Beutel, M. E., Hinz, A., Zenger, M., Härter, M., ... & Brähler, E. (2018). Social support in the general population: standardization of the Oslo social support scale (OSSS-3). BMC psychology, 6(1), 31.
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