Graduate Program

School Psychology

Degree Name

Specialist in School Psychology

Semester of Degree Completion

Spring 2024

Thesis Director

Steven J. Scher

Thesis Committee Member

Margaret T. Floress

Thesis Committee Member

Jeffrey R. Stowell

Abstract

The current study set out to provide validity evidence for the Late Adolescent Social Support Inventory (LASSI), a scale designed to measure the perception of the availability of social support. Participants were recruited from undergraduate psychology courses at Eastern Illinois University. There were 69 participants who completed the LASSI, an alternative measure of social support (the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, shortened version; ISEL – 12), measures of depression, anxiety and stress (the subscales of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, short version; DASS – 21), and a measure of satisfaction with life (the Satisfaction with Life Scale; SWLS). All scales demonstrated adequate reliability and validity. The correlation between the LASSI and ISEL – 12 was positive, demonstrating construct validity. Criterion related validity of the LASSI was supported by negative correlations of LASSI scores with depression, anxiety and stress, the subscales of the DASS – 21, and a positive correlation with the SWLS. Future research could focus on including data from a larger and more diverse sample population and how this information would inform practitioners who work with young people.

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