Self-Assessment: Supportive Communication Scale
This scale is designed to assess the degree to which partners experience supportive
communication in their relationships. After reading each item, circle the number that best
approximates your answer.
0= strongly disagree (SD)
1= disagree (D)
2= undecided (UN)
3= agree (A)
4= strongly agree (SA)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
My partner listens to me when I need someone to talk to.
My partner helps me clarify my thoughts.
I can state my feelings without his/her getting defensive
When it comes to having a serious discussion, it seems we
have little in common (reverse scored).
I feel put down in a serious conversation with my partner
(reverse scored).
I feel it is useless to discuss some things with my partner
(reverse scored).
My partner and I understand each other completely.
We have an endless number of things to talk about.
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
Scoring
Look at the numbers you circled. Reverse score the number for questions 4, 5 and 6. For
example, if you circled a 0, give yourself a 4; if you circled a 3, give yourself a 1, etc. Add
the numbers and divide by 8, the total number of items. The lowest possible score would be
0, reflecting the complete absence of supportive communication; the highest score would 4,
reflecting complete supportive communication. The average score of 94 male partners who
took the scale was 3.01; the average score of 94 female partners was 3.07. Thirty-nine
percent of the couples were married, 38 percent were single, and 23 percent were living
together. The average age was just over 24.
Source:
Sprecher, Susan, Sandra Metts, Brant Burelson, Elaine Hatfield, and Alicia Thompson. 1995.
Domains of expressive interaction in intimate relationships: Associations with satisfaction
and commitment. Family Relations 44:203-10.
Copyright (1995) by the National Council on Family Relations, 3989 Central Ave. NE, Suite
550, Minneapolis, MN 55421. Reprinted with permission.
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