Social Support Factor Structure in the Elderly

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Abstract
This research examines the factor structure of social support measures using the responses of a sample of 210 elderly. Four measures selected to operationalize socioemotional and instrumental support were administered as part of a structured interview including demographic, health status, and life satisfaction measures. A principal axes factor analysis followed by oblique rotation generated a four factor solution. The derived factors were interpreted as (1) support intensity, (2) social contacts, (3) social resource availability, and (4) telephone contacts.