Vulnerability Scale for Families

Abstract

Purpose: This study develops a Social Vulnerability Scale for Families (SVSF) in social assistance in Spain. Method: First, a systematic literature review and content validation were performed by experts in the field. The first version of the scale included risk and protective factors in the areas of economic situation, housing, health, intrafamilial relationships, sociocultural capital, and educational situation. Secondly, a first pre-pilot test was conducted, assessing 598 families living in relative poverty and participating in the social program entitled CaixaProinfancia. Finally, the psychometric properties of the SVSF were evaluated in a bigger sample of families (n = 1178). Both evaluations were performed by social workers. Results: The scale reliability was high; dimensionality analysis yielded two differentiated factors confirmed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis: material vulnerability and immaterial vulnerability. Finally, high correlations were found among all the dimensions. Discussion: The SVSF is a validated multi-dimensional assessment method that facilitates social work practice.