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. 2025 May 13;25:329. doi: 10.1186/s12877-025-05971-0

Table 2.

Measurement tools for social frailty (Based on deficit accumulation Model)

Measurement tools Dimensions/phenotypes (items) Scoring structure Interpretation Reference
Theoretical framework: Deficit Accumulation Model
22-item Social Vulnerability Scale (SVS-22)

4 dimensions (22 items)

1. Financial decisions

2. Trusting strangers

3. Following instructions

4. Susceptibility to scams

5-point Likert scale (range 0–88)

4 = always

3 = often

2 = sometimes

1 = rarely

0 = never

Higher scores indicate greater social vulnerability Pinsker, 2006 (Australia) [28]
15-item Social Vulnerability Scale (SVS-15)

2 dimensions (15 items)

1. Gullibility (8 items)

2. Credulity (7 items)

5-point Likert scale (range 0–60) Higher scores indicate greater social vulnerability Pinsker, 2011 (Australia) [29, 30]
Social Vulnerability Index (SVI)

5 dimensions (40 items)

1. Social engagement

1.1. Communication (2 items)

1.2. Living situation (2 items)

2. Social support (12 items)

3. Daily living items/ Daily social activity

3.1 Socially oriented activities of daily living (2 items)

3.2 Leisure activities (6 items)

4. Sense of mastery/ control over one’s life circumstances

4.1 psychological well-being (4 items)

4.2 A feeling of life (9 items)

5. Socio-economic status (3 items)

SVI was calculated as a proportion of the total number of deficit items by dividing the sum of deficit scores by the number of deficits considered. (range 0–1)

Scoring interval 0–1 on each deficit

For example:

- binary rating on social deficits

1 = present

0 = absent

- three categories of social deficits

1 = often

0.5 = sometimes

0 = never

- five categories of social deficits would be scored 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1

Higher scores indicate greater social vulnerability Andrew, 2008 (Canada) [31]
Social frailty phenotype (SFP)

6 phenotypes

1. Living alone

2. Lack of a person to help with activities of daily living

3. Infrequent contact with family

4. Infrequent contact with friends or neighbors

5. Absence of a confidant

6. Lack of support for daily living during the past 3 months

Binary rating on social frailty phenotypes

1 = present

0 = absent

≥ 2 phenotypes indicate social frailty status Garre-Olmo, 2013 (Spain) [32]

Abbreviations: SVS, Social Vulnerability Scale. SVI, Social Vulnerability Index. SFP, Social Frailty Phenotype