The Arabic Lubben Social Network Scale-6: Psychometric Validation, Measurement Invariance, and Social Support Profiles in Arabic-Speaking Older Adults

TL;DR

This study validated the Arabic version of a 6-item scale to measure social networks in older adults, showing it is reliable and useful for assessing social isolation.

Contribution

The study provides the first psychometric validation of the Arabic LSNS-6 and identifies distinct social support profiles in older Arabic-speaking adults.

Findings

The Arabic LSNS-6 showed good internal consistency (α = 0.83; ω = 0.84) and supported a two-factor structure.

Moderate convergent validity was found with perceived social support (r = 0.51).

Latent class analysis identified four distinct social support profiles among participants.

Abstract

This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Arabic version of the 6-Item Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6). The LSNS-6 was translated, culturally adapted, and administered, alongside the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), to 327 Arabic-speaking adults aged 60 years and older. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the hypothesized two-factor structure (Family and Friends), and measurement invariance was evaluated across key sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. Convergent validity was assessed through correlations with MOS-SSS domains. Item response theory (IRT) analyses examined item discrimination and threshold parameters. Latent class analysis (LCA) explored whether the LSNS-6 could identify subgroups with distinct patterns of social connectedness and perceived support. The Arabic LSNS-6 demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.83; ω = 0.84) and supported the expected two-factor structure with satisfactory model fit (CFI = 0.963; TLI = 0.931; SRMR = 0.03). Convergent validity was evidenced by moderate correlations with overall perceived social support (r = 0.51). IRT analyses indicated strong discrimination for most items, and LCA identified four distinct latent classes. Overall, the Arabic LSNS-6 is a reliable and valid tool for assessing social isolation among older Arabic-speaking adults.

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