The 3-item Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) can be used to quickly assess a person's level of social support.
Items:
(1) number of people that can be counted on to help in the event of a great personal problem
(2) amount of interest shown by others in what you do
(3) ease of getting practical help from neighbors in the event of need
|
Parameter
|
Finding
|
Points
|
|
number of people who can be counted on
|
0
|
1
|
|
|
1 or 2
|
2
|
|
|
3 to 5
|
3
|
|
|
6 or more
|
4
|
|
amount of interest shown by other
|
none
|
1
|
|
|
little
|
2
|
|
|
uncertain
|
3
|
|
|
some
|
4
|
|
|
a lot
|
5
|
|
ease of getting help from neighbors
|
very difficult
|
1
|
|
|
difficult
|
2
|
|
|
possible
|
3
|
|
|
easy
|
4
|
|
|
very easy
|
5
|
total score =
= SUM(points for all 3 items)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 3
• maximum score: 14
|
Total Score
|
Social Support
|
|
3 to 8
|
poor
|
|
9 to 11
|
moderate
|
|
12 to 14
|
strong
|
