The use of the social skills performance assessment (SSPA) among persons with serious mental illness: psychometric assessment and network analysis

Background: Challenges in social functioning are a major obstacle in the recovery process of persons with serious mental illness. Majority of social functioning measures use self-report assessments. Aims: To validate the use of a performance based measure and examine a network analysis that explores the centrality of items. In addition, to explore the distinctiveness between the social skills performance assessment (SSPA), and a self-report measure of social quality of life (SQoL). Method: One hundred fifty eight participants were administrated with the SSPA and SQoL scale. Intra-class correlation, Pearson correlation and Network analysis were performed. Results: A differentiation between the SQoL items and the SSPA items appeared. The strongest nodes in the network were social appropriateness (7.413), focus (7.763) and clarity (7.438) from the SSPA measure. The nodes rated highest on the betweenness measure were affect from the SSPA and satisfaction with getting along with other people from the SQoL scale. Conclusions: Interventions should target the skills of focus, clarity and social appropriateness as they present the central items in the network.