Measurement properties of self-reported measures assessing social inclusion in adults diagnosed with mental illness: a systematic review protocol

Measurement properties of self-reported measures assessing social inclusion in adults diagnosed with mental illness: a systematic review protocol | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Measurement properties of self-reported measures assessing social inclusion in adults diagnosed with mental illness: a systematic review protocol Marta Castel-Branco, Beatrice Sacchetto, Fátima Jorge-Monteiro, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6716552/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background : Social inclusion is widely recognized as a key factor in mental health recovery and overall well-being. However, its conceptualization and measurement remain inconsistent across research and practice. Few self-reported measures have been developed to specifically assess social inclusion among persons diagnosed with mental illness, but many have been developed to measure similar constructs, such as community integration, social/ community participation, social/ community engagement, social/ community involvement, (psycho)social functioning, social well-being or recovery. The aim of this study is to identify, compare and synthesize all available self-reported measures assessing social inclusion and similar constructs in adults diagnosed with mental illness, evaluate their measurement properties, identify potential gaps and provide recommendations for future research. Methods : This systematic review protocol follows the COnsensus-based Standards for the Selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in four electronic databases: PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science. Other studies will be identified by reference list checking or contacting the authors. A detailed protocol for a systematic literature review of social inclusion measures (and similar concepts) developed, validated and/or adapted for adults diagnosed with mental illness is presented, including research question, eligibility criteria, search strategy, data selection and collection process, assessment of the methodological quality of individual studies and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), assessment of the quality of evidence, and strategy for data syntheses. Discussion : Given the complexity and lack of consensus around the concept of social inclusion of people with mental illness, along with the growing number of measures, a systematic review is both timely and necessary. A multidimensional approach, which existing tools are compared, can highlight shared features, gaps, and future research needs, supporting a more unified understanding of social inclusion in mental health. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO 2025 CRD420251009903. social inclusion mental illness self-reported measure psychometrics systematic review protocol Full Text Additional Declarations Additional Files 1-6 are not available with this version. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 18 May, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 01 Aug, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 25 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 23 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6716552","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":494427373,"identity":"203b660a-3204-4ecc-9ab7-263b237171ab","order_by":0,"name":"Marta 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assessing social inclusion in adults diagnosed with mental illness: a systematic review protocol","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"systematic-reviews","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"sysr","sideBox":"Learn more about [Systematic Reviews](http://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/sysr/default.aspx","title":"Systematic Reviews","twitterHandle":"@MedicalEvidence","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"social inclusion, mental illness, self-reported measure, psychometrics, systematic review protocol","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6716552/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6716552/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground\u003c/strong\u003e: Social inclusion is widely recognized as a key factor in mental\u0026nbsp;health recovery and overall well-being. However, its conceptualization and measurement remain inconsistent across research and practice. Few self-reported\u0026nbsp;measures have been developed to specifically assess social inclusion among\u0026nbsp;persons diagnosed with mental illness, but many have been developed to measure similar constructs, such as community integration, social/ community\u0026nbsp;participation, social/ community engagement, social/ community involvement,\u0026nbsp;(psycho)social functioning, social well-being or recovery. The aim of this study is\u0026nbsp;to identify, compare and synthesize all available self-reported measures assessing\u0026nbsp;social inclusion and similar constructs in adults diagnosed with mental illness, evaluate their measurement properties, identify potential gaps and provide\u0026nbsp;recommendations for future research.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e: This systematic review protocol follows the COnsensus-based Standards for the Selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was\u0026nbsp;conducted in four electronic databases: PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science. Other studies will be\u0026nbsp;identified by reference list checking or contacting the authors. A detailed protocol for a systematic literature review of social inclusion measures (and similar\u0026nbsp;concepts) developed, validated and/or adapted for adults diagnosed with mental illness is presented, including research question, eligibility criteria, search\u0026nbsp;strategy, data selection and collection process, assessment of the methodological\u0026nbsp;quality of individual studies and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs),\u0026nbsp;assessment of the quality of evidence, and strategy for data syntheses.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiscussion\u003c/strong\u003e: Given the complexity and lack of consensus around the concept of\u0026nbsp;social inclusion of people with mental illness, along with the growing number of\u0026nbsp;measures, a systematic review is both timely and necessary. A multidimensional\u0026nbsp;approach, which existing tools are compared, can highlight shared features, gaps,\u0026nbsp;and future research needs, supporting a more unified understanding of social\u0026nbsp;inclusion in mental health.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSystematic review registration:\u003c/strong\u003e PROSPERO 2025 CRD420251009903.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Measurement properties of self-reported measures assessing social inclusion in adults diagnosed with mental illness: a systematic review protocol","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-08-12 05:09:58","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6716552/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2026-05-18T14:35:45+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-08-01T16:38:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-07-25T14:31:54+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Systematic Reviews","date":"2025-05-23T09:42:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"systematic-reviews","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"sysr","sideBox":"Learn more about [Systematic Reviews](http://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/sysr/default.aspx","title":"Systematic Reviews","twitterHandle":"@MedicalEvidence","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"71cf18fb-8a2d-43f5-aa64-c997ad273cd6","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 12th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2026-05-18T14:35:45+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-08-12T05:09:58+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-12 05:09:58","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6716552","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6716552","identity":"rs-6716552","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}