The Alcohol, Drugs and the Family Social Support Scale (ADF SSS) is a comprehensive measurement tool developed to evaluate the perceived social support available to family members affected by a relative’s problem with alcohol or drug use. This scale is particularly valuable for understanding the nuances of support dynamics, as it captures both positive and negative interactions with friends, family, and health/social care professionals. Developed by Toner in 2009, the ADF SSS addresses the emotional and instrumental support that individuals receive in their lives while coping with the challenges brought on by a loved one’s substance abuse. Given the complex nature of addiction and the varied responses it elicits from family members, the ADF SSS serves as a critical tool for researchers and practitioners seeking insights into familial dynamics thus allowing them to tailor support interventions effectively.
Table of Contents
Description
The ADF SSS assesses the perceived social support for individuals living with a problem drinker or drug taker, measuring both functional and non-functional support from friends, relatives, and health/social care workers.
Authors and Contact Email
P. Toner
Purpose
To measure the social support experienced by family members of individuals with problematic substance use, helping to identify areas where support may be lacking or where improvements can be made.
Test Year
2009
Administration Method and Scoring
The scale can be administered via self-report questionnaires with items rated on a frequency scale: Never, Once or Twice, Sometimes, Often. Scoring is based on the frequency of responses.
Reliability and Validity
Initial studies suggest the ADF SSS has good reliability and validity for assessing perceived social support among family members of problem substance users.
Factors and Subscales
Factors include Positive Functional Support, Negative ADF Support, and Positive Specific ADF Support. Subscales categorize supportive interactions into emotional and informational support, as well as critical or negative aspects of relationships.
Keywords
Alcohol, drugs, family support, social support, addiction, substance use.
Items of ‘Alcohol, Drugs and the Family Social Support Scale’
1. Friends/relations have understood what it is like for me to live with my relative’s drinking or drug taking.
2. Friends/relations have helped to cheer me up.
3. Health/social care workers have given me helpful information about problem drinking or drug taking.
4. I have friends/relations whom I trust.
5. Friends/relations have listened to me when I have talked about my feelings.
6. Friends/relations have backed the decisions that I have taken towards my relative and their drinking or drug taking.
7. Friends/relations have put themselves out for me when I needed practical help (i.e. aid or assistance).
8. Friends/relations have advised me to focus on myself and my own needs.
9. Friends/relations have questioned my efforts to stand up to my relative’s problem drinking or drug taking.
10. Friends/relations have been too critical of my relative.
11. Friends/relations have given me space to talk about my problems.
12. Friends/relations have said that my relative should leave home.
13. Friends/relations have said things about my relative that I do NOT agree with.
14. Friends/relations have avoided me because of my relative’s drinking or drug taking.
15. Health/social care workers have made themselves available for me.
16. Friends/relations have blamed me for my relative’s behaviour.
17. Friends/relations have said that my relative does NOT deserve help.
18. I have identified with the information within books/booklets about people living with a problem drinker or drug taker.
19. Friends/relations have told my relative off on my behalf.
20. Friends/relations have advised me to leave my relative.
21. Friends/relations have been there for me.
22. Friends/relations have provided support for the way I cope with my relative.
23. Friends/relations have talked to me about my relative and listened to what I have to say.
24. Friends/relations have said nasty things about my relative.
25. I have confided in my health/social care worker about my situation.
References
Toner, P. (2009). The development of a social support measure for the family members of problem substance users. PhD thesis. University of Bath.
Toner, P. and Velleman, R. D. B. (2014). Initial reliability and validity of a new measure of perceived social support for family members of problem substance users. Addiction Research & Theory, 22 (2), 147–157.
This instrument can be found at: http://opus.bath.ac.uk/38925/ and http://opus.bath.ac.uk/38925/1/Toner_Velleman_2013_ADF_SSS_Paper.pdf