Social Inclusion Scale (SIS)
Also known as: SIS
The Social Inclusion Scale (SIS) is a brief measure assessing the degree to which individuals with serious mental illness perceive themselves as included, valued members of their community. Developed by Oades, Deane, and colleagues in 2005, the SIS captures subjective experiences of social participation, acceptance, and integration. The scale is used in recovery-oriented mental health services and research to evaluate community integration outcomes and inform interventions promoting social inclusion.
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When to use it
The SIS is recommended for routine monitoring of social inclusion in recovery-oriented services, particularly in community mental health, peer support, and rehabilitation programs. It is useful for evaluating interventions targeting social participation (supported employment, peer groups, community involvement). The SIS is less suited for detailed assessment of specific social relationships or objective social network metrics; it captures subjective belonging rather than concrete social contact.
Strengths & limitations
- Extremely brief (single or few items), enabling quick administration and high compliance.
- Directly captures the subjective experience of inclusion, which is essential to recovery.
- Conceptually simple and meaningful to service users and clinicians.
- Responsive to change; improvements in community engagement and reduced stigma are reflected in SIS increases.
- Minimal missing data due to simplicity.
- Useful for shared decision-making and collaborative goal-setting around inclusion and participation.
- Single-item format limits psychometric depth; Cronbach's alpha and subscale analysis not applicable.
- Vulnerable to social desirability bias; respondents may report higher inclusion than they truly perceive.
- Limited published validation data; less extensive psychometric documentation than longer instruments.
- Does not discriminate between different types of inclusion (work, education, social, spiritual).
- May lack sensitivity in detecting small changes in inclusion over short periods.
Frequently asked
Is the Social Inclusion Scale the same as a social network size measure?
No. The SIS measures subjective feelings of inclusion and belonging, not the number of social contacts. A person may have a small social network but feel highly included within it, or have many contacts but feel excluded. The SIS captures the quality and meaningfulness of inclusion, not quantity of relationships.
What is a typical SIS score for someone in recovery?
This varies widely depending on the individual's circumstances, community, and stage of recovery. In community samples, scores typically range from 40–80. Early in recovery or during social isolation, scores may be 20–40. As recovery progresses and community engagement increases, scores often rise toward 70–90. Individual trajectory is more important than absolute scores.
Can the SIS be used to monitor supported employment outcomes?
Yes. Supported employment and vocational programs frequently use the SIS to track changes in perceived inclusion and community participation. Work typically increases SIS scores by improving feelings of purpose, social contact, and social status. The SIS can complement employment metrics (hours worked, job retention) to capture the broader inclusion outcome.
Should I administer the SIS regularly, like every visit?
That depends on clinical context. In intensive programs (day programs, peer support groups), quarterly or monthly administration is reasonable. In routine clinic visits, quarterly or semi-annual administration is more typical. Too-frequent administration may not capture meaningful change and can feel burdensome. Monthly administration is a reasonable middle ground for most recovery programs.
Sources
- Oades, L. G., Deane, F. P., Crowe, T. P., Gordon, L. M., Relieur, D. H., & Kavanagh, D. J. (2005). Collaborative recovery: An integrative model for working with individuals who experience chronic and recurring mental illness. Australasian Psychiatry, 13(3), 279-284. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1665.2005.02202.x ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Social Inclusion Scale (SIS). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/psychiatric-rehabilitation/social-inclusion-scale
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
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