Department of Medical Sociology, Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
Clin Psychol Psychother. 2014 May-Jun;21(3):227-41. doi: 10.1002/cpp.1860. Epub 2013 Aug 12.
The aim of the study was to create a simplified, easy implementable multidimensional instrument to assess all relevant elements of the structure and function of social network within individuals across different European countries and to provide the tool for health professionals and policy makers. The analysis was based on the sample of 10 446 non-institutionalized adult population from Finland, Poland and Spain. The Social Network Questionnaire Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe Social Network Index (COURAGE-SNI) was part of the COURAGE questionnaire. The indicators of the functioning of social network ties (close relations), frequency of direct contact and general support were evaluated. Functions were assess within the main structural components as spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, other relatives, friends, coworkers and neighbours. The exploratory factor analysis revealed five main latent components of social network with one component composed of hierarchical part. The confirmatory factor analysis provided an acceptable fit for the model. The generalize partial credit model was used to calculate factor scores for five components of the COURAGE-SNI considering the social networks of 'spouse/partner', 'parents', 'other family members', 'neighbours' and 'friends and co-workers'. The scores for every component were recalculated so as to provide the social network saturation ranged from 0 (the lowest) to 100% (the highest possible). Finally, the COURAGE-SNI score was obtained as the sum of weighted information calculated by the item response theory procedure for every aforementioned component. In summary, the COURAGE-SNI showed good reliability and content validity and seems to be a promising tool for the assessment of the social network phenomenon across European countries.
The Courage-SNI is a new tool to assess the construct of social network in population studies. The Courage-SNI is an instrument useful to identify high risk groups or populations whose social network is poorer.
研究的目的是创建一个简化的、易于实施的多维工具，以评估个体在不同欧洲国家的社会网络结构和功能的所有相关要素，并为卫生专业人员和政策制定者提供工具。分析基于芬兰、波兰和西班牙的 10446 名非机构化成年人口样本。社会网络问卷协作老龄化研究在欧洲社会网络指数（COURAGE-SNI）是 COURAGE 问卷的一部分。评估了社会网络关系（亲密关系）的功能、直接接触的频率和一般支持的指标。功能是在配偶、父母、子女、孙子女、其他亲属、朋友、同事和邻居等主要结构组成部分内评估的。探索性因素分析显示，社会网络有五个主要的潜在成分，其中一个成分由层次部分组成。验证性因素分析为该模型提供了可接受的拟合度。使用广义部分信用模型，考虑到“配偶/伴侣”、“父母”、“其他家庭成员”、“邻居”和“朋友和同事”的社会网络，为 COURAGE-SNI 的五个成分计算因素得分。为每个成分重新计算分数，以使社会网络饱和度从 0（最低）到 100%（最高可能）。最后，将 COURAGE-SNI 得分作为通过项目反应理论程序为上述每个成分计算的加权信息的总和获得。总之，COURAGE-SNI 显示出良好的可靠性和内容有效性，似乎是评估欧洲国家社会网络现象的有前途的工具。
COURAGE-SNI 是一种新的工具，用于评估人群研究中的社会网络结构。COURAGE-SNI 是一种有用的工具，可以识别社会网络较差的高风险群体或人群。
