Source- and function-based measurement of social support perception in disaster-experienced individuals: A scale development study

The measurement of perceived social support in disaster-affected populations presents a persistent methodological gap: most available instruments do not simultaneously capture both the source (from whom support comes) and function (how and when it operates) dimensions that are critical in post-disaster contexts. This study aimed to develop and validate a psychometric scale measuring perceived social support in disaster survivors, built on a multi-theoretical framework that integrates source and function dimensions. The study comprised two phases. In Phase 1, a systematic literature review, expert evaluation (Delphi technique), cognitive interviews, and a pilot study yielded an initial pool of 43 items. In Phase 2, data were collected face-to-face via paper-and-pencil from 607 survivors directly affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake across eight provinces in Türkiye. Analyses included exploratory factor analysis, exploratory graph analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory structural equation modeling, measurement invariance testing, reliability analyses, construct validity assessment, item response theory, and network psychometrics. Findings consistently supported a five-factor, 28-item structure. Internal consistency and composite reliability met accepted thresholds; convergent and divergent construct validity were established; item response theory analyses revealed high item discrimination; and network psychometrics confirmed the dimensional structure. Common method variance was not identified as a meaningful alternative explanation for the observed patterns. The resulting Perceived Social Support in Disasters Scale (AASDÖ-28) constitutes a psychometrically sound instrument that simultaneously addresses source and function dimensions, offering a contribution to the scale development literature for post-disaster psychosocial assessment.