Validation of a brief form of the Perceived Neighborhood Social Cohesion questionnaire. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dupuis, Marc; Baggio, Stéphanie; Gmel, Gerhard
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 22:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 218
• Page End: 227
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: depression -- perceived neighborhood social cohesion -- reported health issues -- suicide attempt -- Switzerland; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105315600234
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

The aim of this study was the validation of a brief form of the Perceived Neighborhood Social Cohesion questionnaire using data from 5065 men from the "Cohort Study on Substance-Use Risk Factors." A 9-item scale covering three factors was proposed. Excellent indices of internal consistency were measured (α = .93). The confirmatory factor analyses resulted in acceptable fit indices supporting measurement invariance across French and German forms. Significant correlations were found between the brief form of the Perceived Neighborhood Social Cohesion questionnaire, and satisfaction and self-reported health, providing evidence of the concurrent validity of the scale. Perceived neighborhood social cohesion, and depression and suicide attempts were negatively associated, sustaining the protective effect of perceived social cohesion.