The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS): Reliability and Validity of Russian Version

Perceived stress and personal growth following the transition to military service: The role of sense of coherence and perceived social support

Relying on personal growth and structuration theories, we aimed to examine the internal (sense of coherence/SOC and help-seeking/HS) and external (perceived social support) resources that contribute to soldiers' personal growth following the transition to military service. We also investigated the role that perceived social support plays in moderating the relationship between SOC and personal growth, and between HS and personal growth. Two-hundred-and-seventy-one compulsory service soldiers (of whom 135 were men and 136 were women) completed self-report questionnaires between 6 and 12 months post-recruitment. The results showed both linear and curvilinear associations between soldiers' perceived stress and personal growth; SOC, HS, and perceived social support were positively correlated with personal growth; and perceived social support moderated both SOC and HS correlations with personal growth. Empirical evidence of personal growth in the transition to military service has been scant. Transitioning from civilian life to military service can be stressful and even traumatic but it can also provide opportunities for personal development. Our findings shed light on contributors to personal growth in the transition to military service, with both internal and external resources found to help one gain personal growth. It is evident that in order for soldiers to thrive, both perceived social support and active help-seeking are key factors.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support

Aim

The purpose of this study is to revise the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and validate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the scale for Chinese college students.

Methods

A total of 2830 Chinese college students were tested with the Chinese version of MSPSS. Four weeks after the formal test, 80 randomly selected subjects were retested.

Results

The item analysis shows that the total correlation between each item and the total score is 0.525~0.806, higher than the standard of 0.30; the difference between the high group and the low group in all items has reached the significant level. Exploratory factor analysis shows that the scale includes three factors with a cumulative contribution rate of 69.185%; confirmatory factor analysis shows that the data is well fitted. The total score and three factors of social support scale are positively correlated with self-esteem, with a correlation value of 0.367~0.433, and negatively correlated with depression and anxiety, with correlation values of -0.356~-0.428 and -0.253~-0.308; all are significant at 0.01 level. The internal consistency coefficient of the scale is 0.911, the split-half coefficient is 0.865, and the test-retest coefficient is 0.837-0.914.

Conclusion

The Chinese version of the MSPSS has good reliability and validity, and is suitable for Chinese college students.

Perceived social support mediates the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on job adaptation disorders of workers: An exploratory cross-sectional study

COVID-19 lockdown can lead to job adaptation disorders, which are heterogeneous among individuals. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between perceived social support and job adaptation disorders among workers in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaires of Psychological Questionnaire for Public Health Emergencies, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Work Attitude Scale were used for this cross-section study via an online survey. The study included 626 employees. Hierarchical regression analysis and Bootstrap method were used to investigate the mediation effect of perceived social support between the emergency and job adaptation disorders. The percentages of the 5 dimensions of depression, neurasthenia, fear, compulsion-anxiety, and hypochondria in workers were 59.7%, 56.1%, 92.3%, 42.0%, and 18.7%, respectively. Social support mediated the relationship between depression, neurasthenia, obsessive-compulsive anxiety and job adaptation disorder, accounting for 18.1%, 16.1%, and 17.5% of the total effect (ab/c), respectively. Perceived social support could alleviate COVID-19 pandemic-related depression, neurasthenia, compulsion-anxiety, and job adaptation disorder in Chinese workers. Improving their perception of social support, workers may better adapt themselves to work in the challenging of the public health emergency during COVID-19 pandemic.

Validation of the Malay version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS-M) among patients with cancer in Malaysia

BACKGROUND

The well-being and adaptive functioning of patients with cancer depend on their perception of social support. To accurately assess and understand the impact of social support in a diverse population, validated measurement tools are essential. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Malay version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS-M) among patients with cancer in Malaysia.

METHODS

A total of 346 cancer patients with mixed disease types were recruited and completed the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire and the MSPSS-M. The MSPSS-M was assessed for internal consistency, construct validity, face, content, convergent, discriminant validity, and confirmatory factor analyses.

RESULTS

The MSPSS-M and its three domains demonstrated good internal consistency with Cronbach's α ranging from 0.900 to 0.932. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the MSPSS-M supported the three-factor model of the original English version of the MSPSS. The MSPSS-M also exhibited good convergent validity and discriminant validity.

CONCLUSION

The MSPSS-M demonstrates favorable psychometric properties among patients with cancer in Malaysia. The validation of the MSPSS-M provides a culturally adapted and linguistically valid instrument to assess perceived social support among Malay-speaking patients with cancer in Malaysia.

A Qualitative Study to Explore the Determinants of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Pregnancy among Female Adolescents in Sabah, Malaysia

This investigation was performed in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah state, where the highest number of pregnancies is recorded. The purpose of this study was to determine variables associated with hazardous sexual activity and adolescent pregnancy in Sabah, Malaysia. The findings indicate that familial variables, peer interactions, self-esteem, psychiatric concerns, economic considerations, and sex knowledge all play a significant role in hazardous sexual conduct and adolescent pregnancy in Sabah, Malaysia. Information obtained from this study will help the Malaysian government and other officials to design and establish proper interventions that will help alleviate the challenge of high prevalence of teenage pregnancy. It is suggested that sex education be included in the high school curriculum, along with physical and health education in Sabah, Malaysia.

Evidence of the validity of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in university students

Abstract Social support refers to the social resources that a person perceives to be available and has been strongly associated with physical and mental health outcomes. The present study aimed to evaluate the internal consistency, construct validity, and test-retest reliability of the Perceived Social Support Multidimensional Scale (PSSMS) in university students in the Midwest of Brazil. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed with two independent random samples, both consisting of 1,147 students. The test-retest study was carried out with a sample of 347 medical students. Data were collected in two separate moments with a 14-day interval. The solution with the best fit was the three-factor model: family, friends, and significant others. The factor loadings of the scale items ranged between 0.767 and 0.950 and each factor showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.96, 0.97, and 0.97, respectively). The model also attained adequate fit: χ2(d.f.)=380 (49), p<0.0001; SRMR=0.023; RMSEA=0.077; CFI=0.993; TLI=0.990. Test-retest reliability was moderate (weighted kappa ranging from 0.36 to 0.52). The results suggest that the PSSMS has acceptable psychometric properties for use with university students.

Evidências de validade da Escala Multidimensional de Suporte Social Percebido (EMSSP) em universitários

Resumo O apoio social se refere aos recursos sociais percebidos como disponíveis à pessoa e tem sido fortemente associado a desfechos em saúde física e mental. O estudo atual objetivou avaliar a consistência interna, a validação de construto e a confiabilidade teste-reteste da Escala Multidimensional de Suporte Social Percebido (EMSSP) em universitários do Centro Oeste brasileiro. As análises fatoriais exploratória e confirmatória foram realizadas com duas amostras aleatórias e independentes, ambas de 1.147 universitários da área da saúde. O estudo teste-reteste foi realizado com uma amostra de 347 estudantes de medicina e duas coletas com intervalo de 14 dias entre elas. A melhor solução foi com três fatores: família, amigos, e outros significativos, os quais apreesentaram cargas fatoriais variando entre 0,767 a 0,950 e consistência interna elevada (alfa de Cronbach de 0,96, 0,97 e 0,97, respectivamente). O ajustamento para essa solução foi adequado (χ2(g.l.)=380 (49), p<0,001; SRMR: 0,023; RMSEA: 0,077; CFI: 0,993; TLI: 0,990). A confiabilidade teste-reteste foi moderada (Kappa ponderado variando de 0,36 a 0,52). Os resultados sugerem que a EMSSP possui propriedades psicométricas aceitáveis para seu uso com universitários.

Self-care behavior and associated factors among patients with heart failure in public hospitals of Southeast Ethiopia

Objective

This study was performed to assess self-care behavior and associated factors among patients with heart failure attending public hospitals in Southeast Ethiopia in 2021.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 patients with heart failure from 15 May to 30 June 2021 using a simple random sampling technique. A multivariable binary logistic model was used to identify factors associated with self-care behavior. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05.

Results

The magnitude of good self-care behavior among patients with heart failure was 53.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 48.9–58.3]. Factors associated with self-care behavior were treatment with a beta blocker [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.49; 95% CI, 0.27–0.89], treatment with digitalis (AOR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.05–0.24), the level of social support (AOR, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.03–0.15), and the presence of depressive symptoms (AOR, 0.21; 95% CI, 2.70–8.33).

Conclusion

Slightly more than half of the respondents had good self-care behavior. Attention should be given to enhancing good self-care practice through integration of health education as routine care.

A comprehensive description of self-reported health and life satisfaction in cardiac arrest survivors

Background

Self-reported health and life satisfaction are considered important outcomes in people surviving cardiac arrest. However, most previous studies have reported limited aspects on health, often based on composite scores, and few studies have focused on life satisfaction. Investigating health aspects with a broad and detailed perspective is important to increase the knowledge of life after cardiac arrest from the perspective of survivors. In addition, the knowledge of potential differences in health among survivors related to place of arrest (in-hospital cardiac arrest; IHCA or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; OHCA) is scarce. The aim was to describe and compare self-reported health and life satisfaction in IHCA and OHCA survivors. 

Methods

This observational cross-sectional study included adult cardiac arrest survivors six months after resuscitation, treated at five Swedish hospitals between 2013 and 2018. Participants received a study specific questionnaire including Health Index (HI), EQ-5D 5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L), Minimal Insomnia Sleeping Scale (MISS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). In order to present characteristics descriptive statistics were applied. The Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fishers’ exact test were used to compare differences in self-reported health and life satisfaction between in-hospital- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors

Results

In total, 212 survivors participated. Based on scale scores and general measures, the median scores of health and life satisfaction among survivors were high: HI total = 29, EQ VAS = 80, and SWLS = 20. According to HI, most problems were reported for tiredness (37.3 %) and strength (26.4 %), while pain/discomfort (57.5 %) and anxiety/depression (42.5 %) where most common according to EQ-5D-5L. Except for EQ-5D-5L mobility (p = 0.023), MSPSS significant other (p = 0.036), and MSPSS family (p = 0.043), no health differences in relation to place of arrest were identified.

Conclusions

Although general health and life satisfaction were good among cardiac arrest survivors, several prevalent health problems were reported regardless of place of arrest. To achieve an improved understanding of health in cardiac arrest survivors, it is important to assess specific symptoms as a complement to composite scores of general, physical, emotional, and social health.

Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) Among Family Caregivers of People with Schizophrenia in China

INTRODUCTION

The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is one of the most widely used scales for social support. Although previous studies have shown good reliability and concurrent validity, conflicting evidence exists on its factor structures.

AIM

To validate the MSPSS among caregivers of people with schizophrenia in China and assess its factor structure.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted of 449 family caregivers in 12 communities for psychometric testing, eg, internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, construct validity, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

RESULTS

The MSPSS showed good internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.95, good test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.91, and kappa ranging from 0.62 to 0.71. Concurrent validity was supported by its negative correlations with perceived stress, and significant positive correlations with caregiving rewarding feelings, family functioning, and coping. EFA yielded a two-factor structure (family vs non-family), while CFA generally supported a three-factor structure (family, friends, and significant others).

CONCLUSION

Our findings show good psychometric properties of the MSPSS among caregivers of people with schizophrenia in China. EFA yields two-factor structure and CFA yields three factors consistent with the theory underlying the measure's development.

Drop-the-p: Bayesian CFA of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Australia

AIM

We aimed to investigate whether the 12-item Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) constitutes a valid and reliable measure of social support for the general adult Australian population.

METHODS

Data were from Australia's National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-2006 and included 3899 participants aged 18 years old and over. The psychometric properties were evaluated with Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis. One-, two-, and three-factor (Significant Other, Family and Friends) structures were tested. Model fit was assessed with the posterior predictive p-value (PPPχ2), Bayesian root mean square error of approximation (BRMSEA), and Bayesian comparative fit index (BCFI). Dimensionality was tested by comparing competing factorial structures with the Bayes factor (BF). Reliability was evaluated with the Bayesian Ω H . Convergent validity was investigated with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and discriminant validity with the Perceived Dental Control scale (PDC-3).

RESULTS

The theoretical three-factor model (Significant Other, Family, and Friends) provided a good fit to the data [PPPχ2 < 0.001, BRMSEA = 0.089-95% credible interval (CrI) (0.088, 0.089); BCFI = 0.963-95% CrI (0.963, 0.964)]. The BF provided decisive support for the three-factor structure in relation to the other structures. The SO [BΩ H = 0.95 - 95% CrI (0.90, 0.99)], FA (BΩ H = 0.92 - 95% CrI (0.87, 0.97), and FR (BΩ H = 0.92 - 95% CrI (0.88, 0.97)] subscales displayed excellent reliability. The MSPSS displayed initial evidence of convergent and discriminant validity.

CONCLUSION

The MSPSS demonstrated good psychometric properties and excellent reliability in a large Australian sample. This instrument can be applied in national surveys and provide evidence of the role of social support in the Australian population.

Social support for patients with coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

To assess how social support relates to parameters of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and how social support affects patient's prognosis within 1 year after surgery.

METHODS

The study included 739 male and 236 female patients (975) who underwent PCI. To determine level of social support, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was used. The mean duration of a prospective follow-up was 12.0 ± 1.7 months. The Cox multivariate regression proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of death from all causes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

RESULTS

A low level of social support in 5.7% of patients was observed, while 30.5% had a moderate level and 63.8% had a high level. Patients with low and moderate levels of social support were older than those with high level. Among patients with high levels of social support, more were male compared to patients with moderate level. During observation, 24 patients died from all causes (2.5%), while 21 (2.2%) died from CVD. In the multivariate Cox regression model the HR of social support for all causes of death was 0.97 (95% confidence interval, [CI], 0.94-0.99, p = 0.007), while death from CVD was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.94-1.00, p = 0.048). For patients with low level of social support, the HR for death from all causes was 4.52 (95% CI, 1.37-14.95, p = 0.013), while death from CVD was 3.66 (95% CI, 0.94-14.25, p = 0.061).

CONCLUSION

Social support level was associated with age and gender, and significantly and independently affected CAD patients' risk of death after PCI.