Validity and reliability of the Lubben Social Network Scale-Revised (LSNS-R) on older adults in Turkey

Kuru Alıcı N., Kalanlar B.

CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY, vol.40, no.1, pp.21-28, 2021 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 40 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s12144-020-01125-0
  • Journal Name: CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, BIOSIS, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Psycinfo
  • Page Numbers: pp.21-28
  • Keywords: Ageing, Loneliness, Older adults, Reliability, Social network, Validity, NURSING-HOME, FOLLOW-UP, COGNITIVE FUNCTION, RISK-FACTORS, LONELINESS, SUPPORT, HEALTH, WELL, LIFE, TIES
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-R) on older adults living nursing homes in Turkey. The study included 120 older adults who were aged 65 and over(64.2% females, M-age = 78.84, SD = 13.21, range = 65-91). The language and content validity, construct validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the scale were tested. The Turkish version of LSNS-R had a high internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.94. In the test-retest reliability assessment, ICC was 0.95 (p < 0.001). In this study, the KMO value was found to be .857, which is considered very good. The factor loadings for the construct validity of the scale showed that this two-factor model showed acceptable fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.108, GFI = 0.872, CFI = 0.969, IFI = 0.969, RFI = 0.927, RMR = 0.107). In conclusion, these findings indicated that the Turkish-adapted version of LSNS-R is a reliable and valid instrument to measure social ties and social networks among older adults living nursing homes. The potential practical implication of the findings is that by using this scale, researchers can identify the isolated older adults. This can be an important step in the identification of vulnerable individuals who live in nursing homes.