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Growing research interest in social support underscores the need for reliable and valid measures of this concept. It is argued that measures that assess what indivMuals actually do by way of providing support make unique contributions to our understanding of natural helping processes. A 40-item scale, the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB), was developed in which respondents report the frequency with which they were the recipients of supportive actions. Results suggest that the ISSB has adequate test-retest and internal consistency reliability and is significantly correlated with network size and perceived support of the family. Although further research is needed to further substantiate its utility, the ISSB is seen as a promising tool for understanding natural helping processes.

When people are asked to indicate who they turn to in times of crisis and emotional distress, they typically cite key family members and friends who they consider" natural helpers"(Gurin, Veroff, & Feld, 1960; Croog, Lipson, & Levine, 1972; Keefe, Padilla, & Carlos, 1978). Particularly since Caplan's (1974) influential work, the term social support has been popularized to connote the various forms of aid and assistance supplied by family members, friends, neighbors, and others. Support networks formed by these informal helpers are thought to have a major