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Psychometric evaluation of the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in young adults with chronic health conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2019

F. Nearchou Open the ORCID record for F. Nearchou [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Davies  and
E. Hennessy
F. Nearchou*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland School of Social Applied Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
A. Davies
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
E. Hennessy
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: F. Nearchou, School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. (Email: niki.nearchou@ucd.ie)
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Abstract

Introduction.

The Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is one of the most widely employed tools for measuring perceived social support from three sources: family, friends and a significant other. This study aimed to establish the factor structure of the MSPSS in young adults living with chronic health conditions (CHCs). It also aimed to examine the reliability and convergent validity of the tool.

Methods.

A cross-sectional quantitative design was applied. Participants (n = 123, 90 females) were students aged 18–25 years recruited from Colleges of Further Education in Ireland (mean age of 20.1 years, s.d. = 2.43). Participants completed the MSPSS and two subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey that assessed social functioning and emotional well-being.

Results.

Exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution of the MSPSS in young adults living with CHCs. The three factors together explained 83% of the variance in MSPSS scores. All the items had high loadings on the factors (0.72–0.94). The MSPSS showed satisfactory reliability and convergent validity.

Conclusions.

These findings suggest that the MSPSS is a valid and reliable tool for measuring perceived social support from three sources in young adults living with CHCs. Social support has been associated with positive outcomes in young adults living with CHCs, thus it is imperative for researchers and clinicians to have access to psychometrically sound instruments to evaluate the construct.

Keywords

Chronic health conditionreliabilitysocial supportvalidityyoung adults
Type
Short Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 39 , Issue 4 , December 2022 , pp. 386 - 390
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2019

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