Abstract

*Andrew P. Smith and Arwel James

ABSTRACT

Background: A key component of well-being is social support. There are many questionnaires measuring social support and the present study examined the utility of a single question in a sample of secondary school students. Methods: Eighty-two secondary school students completed an online survey measuring well-being predictors and outcomes. The survey contained a four-item measure of social support from the Student Well-being Process Questionnaire (SWPQ) and a single item evaluating the components of social support. Results: The four social support questions from the SWPQ loaded on a single factor, and a total support score was used in the analyses. The single item and total support scores were significantly correlated and showed similar associations with well-being outcomes. Social support was generally associated with positive outcomes but not negative ones, except for depression. When established predictors of well-being were included in the analyses, the single-item social support measure remained significantly associated with positive well-being and flourishing but not life satisfaction or depression. Life satisfaction was related to psychological capital and depression with negative coping. Conclusions: A single-item social support question was associated with the four-item social support scale from the WPQ and showed the expected associations with well-being outcomes. This question can now be used in a shorter version of the WPQ.