Social Vulnerability Scale for older adults: Validation study*

*For information on using the Social Vulnerability Scale, email [email protected] or [email protected]

Abstract

The Social Vulnerability Scale (SVS), an informant-report of social vulnerability for older adults, was piloted in a sample of 167 undergraduate students (63 male, 104 female) from the University of Queensland. Participants aged 18 – 53 (M = 25.53 years, SD = 7.83 years) completed the SVS by rating a relative or friend aged ≥50 years (M = 71.65 years, SD = 12.49 years): either someone with memory problems, stroke, dementia, or other neurological condition (n = 85); or a healthy older adult (n = 82). Excellent internal consistency and test – retest reliability were demonstrated, and the SVS effectively differentiated healthy older adults from those with a neurological condition based on proxy ratings of social vulnerability. The SVS is a potentially useful adjunct measure of older adults' capacity to reside independently.

Keywords:

• Aging
• assessment
• cognitive disorder
• memory and cognition
• neuropsychology
• rehabilitation
• social cognition
• social vulnerability

Acknowledgment

This research was supported by a University of Queensland Research Development Grant.

Notes

*For information on using the Social Vulnerability Scale, email [email protected] or [email protected]