The Social Support Survey: A Validation Study of a Clinical Measure of the Social Support Process

Abstract

Social support is a complex process with far-reaching implications for social work practice. This article presents a practice model of the social supportprocess, detailing its four components (i. e., provider, recipient, interaction, and outcomes), and a measure of the social support process based on the practice model and developed for clinical use. The model and clinical assessment instrument should facilitate understanding the support process and developing client interven tion strategies.