A measure to assess attachment and social support: the interview schedule for social interaction – questionnaire version (ISSI-Q)

The impact of social support upon health and well-being has been studied, and a range of conceptualizations put forward as to how social support operates. Overall, findings suggest that social support influences health and well-being both positively and negatively, directly and indirectly. What is lacking is a more complete understanding of what influences the development, use, and experience of social support, and how such a conceptualization relates to health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore a multidimensional conceptualization of social support by examining if and how adult attachment style is related to social support, how this relates to psychosocial functioning and well-being; and develop a measure that captures this more nuanced view of social support. Drawing on Henderson et al.'s (1980) work, a questionnaire version of their clinical interview was developed. The measure - the Interview of Social Interaction Questionnaire (ISSI-Q), examines support from an attachment-base and diffuse supportive relationships concurrently. The findings indicate the ISSI-Q is a reliable and valid measure which aligns with theory and previous research.