Social Support and Exercise (Modified Sallis)

Measure Definition:

Originally, published in 1987, the purpose of the study was to develop measures of perceived social support and exercise behaviors  (and a separate survey for social support specific to health-related eating). In Study I, specific supportive and nonsupportive behaviors were identified through interviews with 40 individuals making health-behavior changes. In Study II, items derived from the interviews were administered to 171 subjects.

Later, the initial 29 item survey (available in reference), was shortened to the 13 item survey. The abbreviated survey was designed to be easier to use than the original, complete scale reported in Preventive Medicine.

Construct:

Social Support

Construct Definition (and Source):

Support systems that provide assistance and encouragement to individuals with physical or emotional disabilities in order that they may better cope. (MeSH)

Selected References

Citation PubMed ID

Sallis, J. F., Grossman, R. M., Pinski, R. B., Patterson, T. L., & Nader, P. R. (1987). The development of scales to measure social support for diet and exercise behaviors. Preventive medicine, 16(6), 825–836. https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-7435(87)90022-3