Social Vulnerability Scale for older adults: Validation study†

  1. Donna M. Pinsker1,*,
  2. Valerie Stone1,
  3. Nancy Pachana1,
  4. Stephen Greenspan2

Article first published online: 25 JAN 2011

DOI: 10.1080/13284200600939918

Issue

Clinical Psychologist

Clinical Psychologist

Volume 10, Issue 3, pages 109–119, November 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Pinsker, D. M., Stone, V., Pachana, N. and Greenspan, S. (2006), Social Vulnerability Scale for older adults: Validation study. Clinical Psychologist, 10: 109–119. doi: 10.1080/13284200600939918

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  2. 2

    Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA

* School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4072, Australia, d.pinsker@psy.uq.edu.au

  1. †

    For information on using the Social Vulnerability Scale, email d.pinsker@psy.uq.edu.au or stone@psy.uq.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 JAN 2011
  2. Article first published online: 25 JAN 2011

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (245K)

Keywords:

  • Aging;
  • assessment;
  • cognitive disorder;
  • memory and cognition;
  • neuropsychology;
  • rehabilitation;
  • social cognition;
  • social vulnerability

Abstract

The Social Vulnerability Scale (SVS), an informant-report of social vulnerability for older adults, was piloted in a sample of 167 undergraduate students (63 male, 104 female) from the University of Queensland. Participants aged 18 – 53 (M = 25.53 years, SD = 7.83 years) completed the SVS by rating a relative or friend aged ≥50 years (M = 71.65 years, SD = 12.49 years): either someone with memory problems, stroke, dementia, or other neurological condition (n = 85); or a healthy older adult (n = 82). Excellent internal consistency and test – retest reliability were demonstrated, and the SVS effectively differentiated healthy older adults from those with a neurological condition based on proxy ratings of social vulnerability. The SVS is a potentially useful adjunct measure of older adults' capacity to reside independently.

Get PDF (245K)