Social Connectedness Scale

What is the Social Connectedness Scale?

The Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) is a self-report questionnaire designed to assess social connectedness or the degree to which individuals feel connected to others in their social environment. Developed by Lee and Robbins (1995), the initial 8-item scale evaluates multiple dimensions of social connection, including belongingness, closeness, social support, and relationship satisfaction. It is a reliable tool in counseling psychology, psychological science, and public health to understand how human beings navigate their social worlds.

Currently, the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCS-R) contains 20 items (Lee et al., 2001). It uses a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). A higher total score reflects a stronger social connectedness, indicating robust feelings of belonging and support. Conversely, lower scores may highlight social isolation and its potential mental and physical health impacts.

The SCS is widely used in research to explore the connection between social support and outcomes such as mental health conditions, positive emotions, and overall well-being. It is also valuable in clinical settings for assessing individuals with conditions like depression or anxiety. By providing insights into social ties, the scale helps professionals identify areas for intervention to promote social connection and enhance mental health.

How to use our Social Connectedness Scale template?

Our template is based on the SCS-R and is designed to help healthcare professionals assess and monitor their patients' sense of social connection. The following steps outline how to use the template effectively to gather meaningful insights and facilitate improved patient care.

Step 1: Access the scale template

You can find the Social Connectedness Scale template within this guide. Simply download or access the form to get started with your patient assessment. The template is structured to capture essential information regarding social connectedness, making it easy for you to implement in practice.

Step 2: Use the scale for patient assessment

Administer the Social Connectedness Scale to your patient by asking them to rate their agreement with each of the 20 statements. Ensure the patient understands how to use the Likert scale, selecting a number from 1 to 6 that best reflects their experiences with social relationships.

Step 3: Gather and interpret data

Once the patient completes the scale, collect their responses. Review the answers to understand their sense of belonging, support, and satisfaction in their social relationships. Higher scores indicate stronger social connectedness, while lower scores may signal areas for concern.

Step 4: Discuss results with patient

After interpreting the data, schedule a session to discuss the results with your patient. Address any concerns related to their social isolation or lack of connection. Encourage open communication to explore their feelings and provide emotional support during this conversation.

Step 5: Provide patient education and next steps

Based on the assessment results, relevant education on improving social connectedness should be offered. Provide recommendations such as joining support groups or engaging in social activities. If necessary, refer the patient to appropriate services for further psychological support or counseling to address any identified mental health concerns.

Scoring and interpretation

The Social Connectedness Scale uses a 6-point Likert scale, with responses ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 6 (Strongly Agree). Negatively worded items should be reversed during scoring to ensure alignment with the intended interpretation of the construct. After reversing the scores, the item values are summed to calculate a total score ranging from 20 to 120.

A higher total score reflects greater feelings of connectedness and belonging with others, while a lower score may indicate feelings of isolation or disconnection. Proper administration and scoring of the Social Connectedness Scale can provide valuable insights into an individual’s relational well-being and social ties.

Next steps after using the scale

After administering the Social Connectedness Scale, healthcare professionals should focus on interpreting the results and planning appropriate interventions based on the patient’s social connectedness. If the patient scores low, this may indicate difficulties with interpersonal attachments, which could be linked to psychological stress or chronic loneliness. In such cases, a thorough discussion of the patient’s social relationships is essential to identify areas of improvement.

Using insights from counseling behavior and social psychology, healthcare providers can explore strategies to strengthen social connections. This could include recommending social skills training, supporting the patient in building meaningful relationships or addressing factors contributing to social isolation. Encouraging involvement in community activities or fostering support networks can also help improve the patient's social world.

If the patient’s score indicates a greater sense of social connectedness, professionals should acknowledge the positive aspects of their social relationships while continuing to monitor their emotional well-being. This ongoing support ensures that the patient maintains a healthy balance in their social relationships and prevents a decline in social isolation. Ultimately, the goal is to improve human behavior regarding social interactions, reducing the impact of psychological stress and chronic loneliness.

References

Lee, R. M., & Robbins, S. B. (1995). Measuring belongingness: The Social Connectedness and the Social Assurance scales. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 42(2), 232–241. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.42.2.232

Lee, R. M., Draper, M., & Lee, S. (2001). Social connectedness, dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors, and psychological distress: Testing a mediator model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48(3), 310–318.