Social Provisions in Adulthood: Concept and Measurement in Close Relationships

Social gerontologists are increasingly concerned about examining the nature of close relationships among the elderly. Theoretically grounded and empirically validated instruments are needed to advance research in this area. We analyzed the psychometric properties of the Social Provisions Scale using data from a probability sample of 494 community residents aged 65 or older. The theoretical foundation of this scale is Weiss's delineation of social support functions of close relationships. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a pattern in the data that corresponds to the theoretical definition of relational provisions: Factor 1 was Intimacy; Factor 2 was Social Integration; Factor 3 was Reassurance of Worth; and Factor 4 was Opportunity for Nurturance. Alphas for the four scales ranged from .83 to .94. Convergent validity was supported by significant correlations between the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) and respondent's morale, frequency of contact with friends, feelings of closeness with an adult child, relationship control, and relationship conflict. Discriminant validity was supported by nonsignificant correlations between the SPS and the Eysenck Lie Scale.