The reliability and validity of the SAS-SMI

The reliability and validity of the SAS-SMI (Social Adjustment Scale for the Severely Mentally Ill) were assessed in three samples of 670 persons with severe mental illness from a public mental health system. The SAS-SMI retained comparable factor structures (Social, Family, Work, Residential Stability, Romantic Interest, and Personal Well-being) to its predecessor, the SAS-II, and yielded high item-to-scale internal consistency correlations, good interrater reliability, and comparable convergent and divergent validity. The SAS-SMI's performance across these dimensions makes it a potentially valuable tool in mental health services research investigations. Limitations and suggestions for further development are discussed.