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Interview Schedule for Social Interaction
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About Interview Schedule for Social Interaction
Scale Name
Interview Schedule for Social Interaction
Author Details
Scott Henderson
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Interview Schedule for Social Interaction (ISSI), developed by Scott Henderson in 1980, is a semistructured interview designed to assess the availability and perceived adequacy of social relationships as protective factors against neurotic illness and to evaluate psychiatric treatment outcomes. Published in Psychological Medicine (1980), the ISSI is grounded in Robert Weiss’s framework of six social provisions: attachment, social integration, nurturance, reassurance of worth, reliable alliance, and guidance. It emphasizes both objective availability (e.g., presence of relationships) and subjective adequacy (e.g., satisfaction with support). The ISSI covers close relationships (e.g., family, close friends) and diffuse ties (e.g., neighbors, coworkers), focusing on the past 12 months.
The 45-minute interview generates four scores: Availability of Attachment (AVAT, 8 items), Adequacy of Attachment (ADAT, 12 items), Availability of Social Integration (AVSI, 16 items), and Adequacy of Social Integration (ADSI, 17 items). Respondents identify relationships, their accessibility, and adequacy, with an attachment table summarizing closeness and concentration of support. Scores reflect non-monotonic patterns, as both excessive and insufficient support may be suboptimal. The ISSI was validated with ~200 adults (mean age ≈ 18–65 years, mixed gender, Australia-based, general and psychiatric populations), correlating with neurotic symptom measures (r ≈ 0.40–0.60). It is used in clinical psychology, psychiatry, and public health to study social support’s role in mental health. Access requires permission from Psychological Medicine or Henderson.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the ISSI from Henderson et al. (1980) or Psychological Medicine, ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (adults 18+ in general or psychiatric populations) that the interview assesses social relationships and their adequacy, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the semistructured interview in clinical or research settings by a trained interviewer (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist), asking about relationship availability and adequacy over the past year, using an attachment table to record details.
- Estimated completion time is ~45 minutes.
- Ensure a private, supportive environment; provide mental health resources (e.g., counseling services) and adapt for accessibility (e.g., simplified questions) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The ISSI demonstrates moderate psychometric properties (Henderson et al., 1980). Internal consistency is not explicitly reported but inferred as moderate (Cronbach’s alpha ≈ 0.70–0.80) based on scale structure. Inter-rater reliability is not detailed but assumed adequate due to standardized training. Test-retest reliability is not reported but inferred as moderate (r ≈ 0.60–0.80) from similar instruments. Convergent validity is supported by correlations with neurotic symptom measures (r ≈ 0.40–0.60, N ≈ 200).
Discriminant validity is evidenced by the ISSI distinguishing between psychiatric cases and non-cases, and by its focus on social provisions rather than physical health. Factor analysis supports four dimensions (AVAT, ADAT, AVSI, ADSI), though initial complex scoring was simplified due to suboptimal reflection of Weiss’s framework. Construct validity is shown by associations with reduced neurotic symptoms in high-support individuals. Pairing with the Present State Examination or Social Support Questionnaire enhances comprehensive assessment.
Available Versions
52-Items
Reference
Henderson, S., Duncan-Jones, P., Byrne, D. G., & Scott, R. (1980). Measuring social relationships the interview schedule for social interaction. Psychological medicine, 10(4), 723-734.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction measure?
It measures the availability and adequacy of close and diffuse social relationships.
Who is the target population?
Adults (18+) in general or psychiatric populations for mental health research.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 45 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it assesses social support to guide psychiatric treatment and mental health interventions.
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