The social interest index: A study of construct validity

Abstract

Investigated the construct validity of the Social Interest Index (SII) on a sample (N = 140) of hospitalized male alcoholics. Because of the inferred properties of social interest, it was hypothesized that the SII would relate positively with measures of some social traits, mental health, intelligence, education, and internal locus of control and would relate negatively with measures of other social traits and MMPI "pathology" scales. The hypotheses generally were supported. The significant positive correlation between the SII and social desirability was discussed along with other theoretical/methodological issues raised by the data.

Social Interest, Stress, and the Prediction of Health Status

“…First, the results indicated that social interest was a significant predictor of health status as measured by the three health indices. Although previous researchers found a positive relationship between social interest and life adjustment (Crandall & Lehman, 1977;Crandall & Putnam, 1980;Mozdzierz & Semyck, 1980;Zarski et al, 1981), the findings of this study extended this context to include health-related variables. Specifically, the results indicated that social interest is consistently associated with high overall health, a low number of somatic symptoms, and high energy level.…”

“…Because previous stress research has been hampered by psychometric limitations, including the use of theoretically incompatible variables (Moracco & McFadden, 1982;Stensrud & Stensrud, 1983), it was necessary to select a variable consistent with Lazarus's model. On the basis of findings relevant to Lazarus's model that point to social interest as a psychosocial characteristic mediating the stress-life adjustment outcome (Crandall & Kytonen, 1980;Crandall & Lehman, 1977) and on increasing evidence that supports Adler's views on the relationship between social interest and adjustment (Crandall & Putnam, 1980;Hjelle, 1975;Mozdzierz & Semyck, 1980;Zarski et al, 1981), we determined that social interest was an appropriate and compatible research variable.…”

Social Interest, Running, and Life Adjustment

“…Greever et al (1973) reported an internal reliability coefficient of .81 and a test-retest reliability coefficient of .79 for the total SII. Support for the concurrent validity of the SII (Bubenzer, Zarski, & Walter, 1979;Hjelle, 1975;Kaplan, 1978) and the construct validity (Mozdzierz & Semyck, 1980) also has been reported. In order to utilize the data for a factor analysis, the SII was modified in form.…”

“…Previous research regarding social interest, sex, and age is limited and warrants further exploration. For example, Mozdzierz and Semyck (1980) found a negative relationship between age and the SII in a male pathological sample. Greever, Tseng, and Friedland (1973), however, found a positive relationship between SII and age for females but not for males.…”

“…With the exception of the physical fitness dimension, this concept seems compatible with that of social interest. While research on the social interest construct supports a positive relationship between this variable, psychological well-being, and life adiustment (Crandall & Lehman, 1977;Crandall & Putnam, 1980;Hjelle, 1975;Mozdzierz & Semyck, 1980;Zarski, Bubenzer, & West, 1981), research exploring the relationship between increased physical functioning brought about by systematic exercise and social interest and life adjustment is negligible. Since evidence supporting Adler's views on the relationship between social interest and the problems of living, including mind and environment, continue to increase (Crandall, 1978;Crandall & Kytonen, 1980;Zarski, West, & Bubenzer, 1981), questions concerning the physical dimension require exploration.…”