Page 35 - Social networks of people with mild intellectual disabilities: characteristics and interventions

Structural and Functional Characteristics
2.2.2 Instrument: Maastricht Social Network Analysis
The Maastricht Social Network Analysis (MSNA) (Baars, 1994) is an instrument
which can be used to map the structural and functional characteristics of a
social network. A list of important network members is first constructed
and can include: family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours, other acquaintances and professionals (e.g. support staff, therapists, social workers, 2 coaches). Next, each member of the network is scored with respect to a
number of structural characteristics: demographic characteristics, accessibility (i.e. geographical distance between participant and network member), length of the relationship, initiation of contact, frequency of contact and origin of the relationship. Demographic characteristics included age (younger or older than 35 years), civil status (having a partner or not), work situation (employed/ having activities outside the home or not), IQ (having ID or not). Accessibility was coded as network member living in the same town or not. Length of the relationship was indicated in years. Origin of the relationship was measured using an open-ended question (‘How did you meet this network member?’). Initiation of contact was divided into four categories: a participant can either view himself or a network member as the main initiator of the contact, but they can also view the initiation as being reciprocal or non-active. Frequency of contact (measured as number of times per year) included frequency of face- to-face contact, frequency of contact via telephone and frequency of internet contact. Each relationship was next scored along a five-point scale with respect to a number of functional characteristics, namely the supportiveness of the contact operationalized using the following four dimensions: affection (e.g. feeling safe and secure with the person, loving the person), connection (e.g. liking the same things), preference (e.g. preference for contact with the person, liking the contact), and practical/informational support (e.g. being helped by the person when you don’t know something or aren’t able to do something). With respect to the reliability and validity of the MSNA, the following served as starting points: (a) the person gives only information on network members with whom there is a direct connection; (b) the information obtained in such a manner is of a largely objective, factual nature; and (c) the person gives only information which is known for certain and omits anything which is uncertain (Baars, 1994).
For the present study, the original form of the MSNA was adapted for use with people with mild ID by simplifying the questions and using visualization.
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