Table 3.

Social cohesion instrument descriptions

Author	Measurement Scale Description/Origination	Individual Items
Caldwell et al20 Chen et al33 Guilcher et al32 Lippman et al17a Maguire-Jack and Showalter21 Mmari et al18a Olamijuwon et al35 Perez et al15 Smalls et al24	Sampson Cohesion Scale39 5-point Likert scale, responses ranged from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree” Cronbach α = 0.68–0.84 Validity was not reported	This is a close-knit area People around here are willing to help neighbors People in this area share same values People in this area can be trusted People in the area generally get along with each other
Choi and Matz-Costa30	Source citation not provided 3-point Likert scale; responses included “strongly agree,” “agree,” and “disagree” Cronbach α = 0.70 Validity was not reported	People in the neighborhood are willing to help each other People in the neighborhood can be trusted
Chuang et al34	Author-created index based upon Berger-Schmitt and Noll’s framework to measure social cohesion40 Measured 5 factors (derived from exploratory factor analysis): social equality, social inclusion, social development, social capital, and social diversity Cronbach α ranging between 0.57 and 0.80 for 5 factors Measures demonstrated content and construct validity	Ratio of female/male employment rates and gender wage gap Social, educational, and health expenditures Physician density Government responsibility Household income inequality Social club/organization membership Social trust and quality of social relations Quality of social institutions
de Leon et al13	Author-created scale developed from several established scales13 Cronbach α = 0.71 Validity was not reported	Do you know neighbors by name? Neighbors with whom you can have a friendly talk Neighbors taking care of each other Neighbors and friends talking outside (Remaining items not provided)
Duff et al16	Community organization and empowerment subscale: Social Cohesion Scale41 Previously adapted and validated in population of interest (sex workers)42 Cronbach α = 0.81	You can count on your colleagues if you need to borrow money You can count on your colleagues to accompany you to the doctor or hospital You can count on your colleagues if you need to talk about your problems In general, your colleagues in the area where you work only worry about themselves You can count on your colleagues if you need advice You can count on your colleagues if you need somewhere to stay You can count on your colleagues to help deal with a violent or difficult client You can count on your colleagues to help you find clients You can count on your colleagues to support the use of condoms The group of women/men with whom you work in an integrated group In general, the people you work with are always arguing among each other You can trust the majority of the people working in your area In general, the people you work with get along well
Greif and Nii-Amoo Dodoo28	Source citation not provided 5-point Likert scale, responses ranged from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree” Cronbach α = 0.60 Validity was not reported	If there is a problem in the community, neighbors get together to deal with it There are adults in the community that youth can look up to as a role model You can count on adults in this community to watch out that children are safe and do not get into trouble
Hikichi et al26	Scale devised from Kawachi and Berkman’s description of social cohesion37 Evaluated 3 factors: trust, mutual help, and community attachment 5-point Likert scale, responses ranged from 1 “not at all” to 5 “very much” Scale reliability or validity was not reported	Do you think that people living in your community can be trusted in general? Do you think people living in your community try to help others in most situations? How attached are you to the community in which you live?
Inoue et al6	Author created index from the Shizuoka cohort survey6 Responses included “yes” and “no” Cronbach α = 0.90 Validity was not reported	Do you get along with the people around you? Are you satisfied with your friendships? Do you have someone you can ask for a favor? Are you satisfied with your relationships with the people around you?
Kim et al25	Utilized scale developed and tested in the English Longitudinal Study of Aging43 Based upon other widely used scales, including Sampson’s39 7-point Likert scale, response options not disclosed Cronbach α = 0.83 Validity was not reported	I really feel part of this area If you were in trouble, there are lots of people in this area who would help you Many people in this area can be trusted Most people in this area are friendly
Kingsbury et al29	Source citation not provided Scale previously utilized to assess cohesion in children and adolescence44,45 To be completed by the person most knowledgeable about the child 4-point Likert scale, responses ranged from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” Internal consistency of 0.86–0.90 in current sample Citation provided for validity46	If there is a problem around here, the neighbors get together to deal with it There are adults in the neighborhood that children can look up to People around here are willing to help their neighbors You can count on adults in this neighborhood to watch out that children are safe and do not get in trouble When I am away from home I know that my neighbors will keep their eyes open for possible trouble
Kuipers et al19	Scale items retrieved from the 2006 Netherlands Housing Research questionnaire47 5-point Likert scale, responses included “totally agree,” “agree,” “equal,” “disagree,” and “totally disagree” Cronbach α = 0.83 Validity was not reported	It is unpleasant to live in this neighborhood I feel attached to this neighborhood I feel at home in this neighborhood I am in touch with my direct neighbors I am in touch with other neighbors In this neighborhood, people treat each other nicely I live in a social neighborhood with a high level of solidarity In this neighborhood, people hardly know each other I am satisfied with the population composition of this neighborhood
Pabayo et al14	Scale devised of 7 subscales. These include relationships between students, relationships between students and teachers, education, security, justice, equity, and membership or belonging14 Cronbach α = 0.92 Principal component analysis demonstrated acceptable construct validity	Full scale (37 items) not reported
Ruiz et al27	Source citation not provided Utilized items from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging and the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors in Eastern Europe studies Scale reliability and validity was not reported	Most people in this area cannot be trusted If you were in trouble, there is nobody in this area who would help you
Tang et al22	Scale items extracted from the questions asked in the Chicago Neighborhood and Disability study22 Items aimed to measure social integration and social cohesiveness48 Response scales varied by item Cronbach α = 0.86 Validity was not reported	Do you see neighbors and friends talking outside in the yard or on the street? Do you see neighbors taking care of each other, such as doing yard work or watching children? Do you see neighbors watching out for each other, such as calling if they see a problem? How many neighbors do you know by name? How many neighbors do you have a friendly talk with at least once a week? Could you call on assistance in doing something around your home or yard to “borrow a cup of sugar” or some other small favor?
Wen et al23	Scale developed based on principal component factor analysis Cronbach α = 0.81 Response scale not disclosed	People in this neighborhood are willing to help each other People in this neighborhood get along well with each other People in this neighborhood are trustworthy Most people in this neighborhood know each other
Yu31	Source citation does not match scale (modifications not justified)49 4-point Likert scale, responses ranging from “definitely disagree” to “definitely agree” Scale reliability and validity was not provided	People in this neighborhood help one another People in this neighborhood can be counted on People in this neighborhood can be trusted This is a close-knit neighborhood

^aUsed a modified version of the Sampson Cohesion Scale.