A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Situation-Specific Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire Items

BACKGROUND: Situation-specific social support, measured by comparably worded Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) items, holds promise in the development of context-specific theories at the practice level. However, psychometric work on situation-specific NSSQ items is lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the statistical parameters of situation-specific NSSQ items (affect, affirmation, and aid). METHODS: Using data (N = 154) collected for a larger study, the parameters of three LISREL models were estimated by the generally weighted least squares method using an asymptotic covariance matrix. RESULTS: The modified two-factor model was accepted (chi2 = 11.54, df = 7, p < or = .12). Overall, parameter estimates suggest that, in this research context, two situation-specific items (affirmation and aid) measure unique dimensions of social support. CONCLUSIONS: In this instance, situation-specific affirmation and aid items measure unique dimensions of support. Guided by strong theory, investigators should develop situation-specific items based on the original NSSQ items.