Confirmatory factor analysis of the revised version of the Thai multidimensional scale of perceived social support among the elderly with depression

Correlation Between Resilience and Social Support in Elderly Ischemic Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE

Social support can be divided into emotional support, tool support, and information support in function or mode. Emotional support is an encouragement, expressed as love and care, respect and value, encouragement and compassion, and psychological resilience due to adaptation to adversity and stressors, which is conducive to personal positive psychological adjustment and good functional status. This study aims to explore the status of resilience and social support in elderly stroke patients and examine the correlation between the 2 factors.

METHODS

Convenience sampling was used to survey 280 elderly stroke ischemic patients admitted to the Department of Neurology in our hospital from January to December 2020. General information, resilience, and social support were assessed through questionnaires.

RESULTS

The participants had a moderate level of resilience, with an average score of 63.77 ± 9.99. The total social support score ranged with an average score of 33.72 ± 5.77, indicating a relatively low level of social support. After the Pearson correlation analysis, there was a positive correlation between resilience and social support, namely, r = 0.277, P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhancing social support among elderly stroke patients is an effective way to improve their psychological resilience.

Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-Carer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The importance of the quality of life (QOL) of carers has been increasingly recognized as it has a wide range of effects on the psychological, emotional, and social outcomes of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Understanding their QOL is important as it reflects their unique characteristics; however, there have been few studies on this in Korea. This study aimed to translate and validate the Korean version of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-Carer (PDQ-Carer).

METHODS

This was a methodological study that included a translation process and a cross-sectional investigation. The Korean version of the scale was developed using back translation, semantic adjustment, and pretests. The final version was self-administered by 125 Korean family carers. Cronbach's alpha values were used to assess the internal consistency of the PDQ-Carer. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to validate the translated scale.

RESULTS

Exploratory factor analysis identified four factors that accounted for 64.51% of the variance. A modified model using modification indices was found to fit the data well in the confirmatory factor analysis. That factor analysis supported the structure of the original four factors with relocation of several items that reflected Korean culture. Cronbach's alpha values were 0.96 for the total scale, 0.93 for personal and social activities, 0.89 for strain, 0.85 for anxiety and depression, and 0.85 for self-care.

CONCLUSIONS

This study verified that the Korean version of the PDQ-Carer can be used to acquire important information about the multidimensional aspects of the QOL of Korean carers for patients with PD.

Sense of mastery in first-episode psychosis-a one-year follow-up study

Introduction

A sense of mastery refers to beliefs about having control over one's life and has been found to protect health and buffer the effect of stressful experiences.

Methods

We investigated sense of mastery in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and population controls at baseline and at one-year follow-up. Pearlin and Schooler's Sense of Mastery scale was completed by 322 participants at baseline and by 184 participants at follow-up.

Results

People having experienced FEP reported lower mastery than controls at both time points, but a modest increase was seen in patients at follow-up. The strongest correlates of high baseline mastery in FEP were lower depressive symptoms and higher perceived social support, whereas positive or negative psychotic symptoms did not associate with mastery. Current depressive symptoms also correlated with mastery at the follow-up point, and change in depressive symptoms correlated with change in mastery. Higher mastery at treatment entry predicted remission of psychotic symptoms one year later. Sense of mastery was also found to mediate the association of perceived social support with depressive symptoms.

Discussion

The usefulness of mastery measures should be further tested for estimations of patient prognosis in early psychosis.

Psychometric properties of the German version of the multidimensional perceived social support scale

BACKGROUND

Social support can help older persons to cope with stressful situations. Sheltered housing facilities in German speaking countries therefore aim to promote social support for their residents. The MSPSS is a brief instrument to measure perceived social support, but its psychometric properties have not yet been investigated in a sample of German speaking older persons.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the psychometric properties of the German version of the MSPSS for older persons METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, residents of sheltered housing in Austria were asked to complete the MSPSS and to indicate the frequency of contacts to family and friends. Validity of the scale was investigated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis as well as by their correlations with frequency of contacts to family and friends. Reliability was determined by Cronbach's Alpha and intraclass correlations for repeated measurements.

RESULTS

Exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution for the MSPSS, which was, however, only partially supported by confirmatory factor analysis. Correlations with frequency of contact to family and friends partly confirmed the assumptions about the relationships between these factors and the corresponding groups of persons. Cronbach's Alpha was high, and intraclass correlations for most items ranged from fair to good.

CONCLUSIONS

The incomplete congruence between the theoretical assumptions regarding the scale and the results of the factor analysis is presumably due to overlapping content between the dimensions of the MSPSS, which can be remedied by reformulating some items.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

A slightly modified version of the MSPSS should be used to assess social support in sheltered housing.

Negative association between harsh parenting and life satisfaction: negative coping style as mediator and peer support as moderator

BACKGROUND

Previous research has demonstrated that harsh parenting negatively affects children's psychological development. This study examined the association between harsh parenting during childhood and life satisfaction of Chinese college students. We further looked at whether this association is explained in part by negative coping styles, and whether peer support lessens the potential effect of harsh parenting on negative coping styles and life satisfaction.

METHOD

The sample included 609 Chinese students (aged 17-21 years, M = 18.39, SD = 0.82). The participants responded to questionnaires measuring past experiences with harsh parenting, life satisfaction, negative coping styles, and peer support.

RESULTS

Regression analysis showed that harsh parenting negatively contributed to students' life satisfaction via the mediator of negative coping styles, and peer support moderated this negative relationship. Specifically, the negative impact of harsh parenting on life satisfaction was only significant when there was low peer support. The effect of harsh parenting on negative coping styles was higher in individuals with high peer support than in those with low peer support.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the roles of intrinsic (negative coping style) and extrinsic (peer support) factors in understanding the negative effects of harsh parenting on adolescents' life satisfaction. These results provide insight into how to enhance adolescents' life satisfaction by reducing harsh parenting and negative coping styles and by promoting peer support.

Associations Between Perceived Social Support, Perceived Competence, and Physical Activity in Hong Kong Children With Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aimed to examine the associations between perceived social support, perceived competence, and physical activity in children with physical and intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the third wave of the pandemic in Hong Kong (i.e., July through December 2020), 291 participants age 6-17 years from 27 special schools were included. After controlling for demographic variables, the total variance explained by perceived social support and perceived competence was 24%, F(2, 240) = 12.42, p < .001, with perceived competence having a stronger association with physical activity (β = 0.29, p < .001) than perceived social support (β = 0.07, p = .22). This study highlights two key facilitators for shaping physical activity involvement among children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of strain, constraints, and morality on different cyberbullying roles: A partial test of Agnew's general strain theory

The strain has been well studied in traditional bullying, and recent research has begun to explore it in cyberbullying behavior. Drawing from General Strain Theory, the current study empirically examined the relationship between strain and the cyberbullying behavior of perpetrators and bully-victims, respectively. Meanwhile, this study also considered the influences of the protective variables (e.g., constraints and morality) on the strain, which may potentially reduce the risks of participating in cyberbullying. The sample comprised 928 Chinese internet users (Male = 490, Female = 438) aged between 16 to 50. We identified the prevalence of cyberbullying in China, in which the percentages of cyberbullying perpetrators, cyberbullying victims, and cyber bully-victims were 23.40, 23.20, and 37.40%, respectively. This study mentioned a noteworthy phenomenon: cyberbullying victims quickly became cyberbullying perpetrators when they were cyberbullied. Secondly, according to the binary logistic regression, we hold that the strain was significantly related to cyberbullying behaviors, as individuals with low levels of self-control showed a higher tendency to participate in cyberbullying. As for protective factors, the results showed that constraints and morality can reduce the negative consequences of strain and then against cyberbullying, exploring the possibilities of using constraints and morality as variables to decrease strain and prevent cyberbullying. Thus, the unique values of this study are using the GST theory to investigate the empirical link between strain and cyberbullying between different roles in a new cultural and social background, demonstrating that negative emotion and low self-control had influences on strain and cyberbullying behaviors. Meanwhile, this study also contributes by discussing the implications for future research and practicing efforts targeting how to decrease the risks of cyberbullying engagement, for example, we suggest that the prevention and intervention of cyberbullying should adopt a cross-sectoral response to help individuals to view cyberbullying, vent dissatisfaction and relieve strain in the right way.

Educational quality and technological complexity on recognition of enhanced learning platform in developing countries using PLS-SEM in a post COVID era

The e-learning platform provides a new teaching-learning channel in which instructors provide information to learners irrespective of method used to access the platform. The purpose of this study is to examine instructors' acceptance of e-learning in Nigerian universities. The study adopted a quantitative approach, with a total of 299 questionnaires collected from instructors. The result was analyzed using PLS-SEM. The study results indicate the factors affecting instructors' adoption of e-learning platforms and the subsequent impact on instructors' behavioral intention, and consequenly, an impact on the acceptance of the e-learning platform in Nigeria. Based on the study, self-efficacy, educational quality, and ease of use, perceive usefulness, and behavioral intention were found to be predictors for instructors' acceptance of the e-learning platform in Nigeria. Also, the results drawn from the study revealed that there are individual challenges that come from the use of the e-learning platform. We discussed both theoretical and educational implications.

Predictors for quality of life among older adults with depressive disorders: A prospective 3-month follow-up cohort study

PURPOSE

The study aimed to investigate the predictive factors for quality of life among subjects with late-life depression.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Data including depressive symptoms assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression (HAMD), geriatric depression scale (GDS), perceived stress scale (PSS), multidimensional scale for perceived social support, and the EQ-5D scale were collected at baseline and at 3-month follow-up from 264 participants.

FINDINGS

After controlling for covariates, time, GDS, PSS, HAMD, and living alone were confirmed predictors for change of EQ-5D scores.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Perceived stress is important, and intervention to reduce stress especially in early treatment of depressive disorder should be encouraged.

Adverse childhood experiences combined with emotional and physical abuse by the partner predict antenatal depression

BACKGROUND

Few studies examined the contributions of childhood adversities, intimate partner violence and social support to antenatal depression (AD). This study aims to 1) evaluate association of these psychosocial factors with AD symptoms in pregnancy; and 2) examine the mediating effect of social support on the relationship between psychosocial stressors and AD symptoms.

METHODS

Participants were 120 pregnant women aged from 18 to 49 in less than 16 gestational weeks and attending at Antenatal Care Center at Khon Kaen hospital, Thailand. AD symptoms were assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Childhood adversities, intimate partner violence and social support were measured using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE questionnaire), Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).

RESULTS

We found that the EPDS score was significantly and positively associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and negatively with social support. Partial Least Square analysis showed that 49.1% of the variance in the depressive subdomain of the EPDS score was predicted by ACEs, namely psychological and physical abuse and neglect, emotional or physical abuse by the partner, unplanned pregnancy, and no satisfaction with their relationship. The effects of adverse childhood experience due to neglect on the EDPS score was mediated by social support by friends.

LIMITATIONS

ACEs were assessed retrospectively and, therefore, may be susceptible to recall bias.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal depression scores are to a large extent predicted by psychological distress as indicated by early lifetime trauma, abuse by partner, relation satisfaction, and implications of unintended pregnancy.

Multidimensional scale of perceived social support: evidence of validity and reliability in a Chilean adaptation for older adults

Background

Given the relevance of social support on the mental health of older adults, having an instrument to evaluate this variable is essential for research in the area. However, mainly, having instruments with suitable evidence of their psychometric properties is critical. For this reason, this study sought to evaluate the factorial and reliability structure of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support within autonomous older adults from the Province of Concepción, Chile.

Methods

We surveyed 399 older adults using quote sampling. They answered a Spanish version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, plus a sociodemographic questionnaire. We performed confirmatory factor analysis using Weighted Least Squares Means and Variances adjusted estimation (WLSMV) to compare the factor models proposes by previous studies. To evaluate reliability, we calculated Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega.

Results

The Confirmatory factor analysis found that the 3-factors models showed the best fist index between the models with CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.989, and SRMR = 0.035, even though RMSEA were over the cutoff point. The factors presented reliabilities from α = 0.858 to α = 0.941, and from ω = 0.937 to ω = 0.972.

Conclusions

The results support the existence of three factors for the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), differentiating the support perceived from Family, Friends, and significant others. All factors present good or excellent reliability. This solution is theoretically consistent and coherent with the literature, and it presents evidence in favor of the use of MSPSS as a measurement to distinguish the support perceived source.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02404-6.

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.

Impact of Perceived Social Support on the Relationship between ADHD and Depressive Symptoms among First Year Medical Students: A Structural Equation Model Approach

BACKGROUND

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with depression among college students, while perceived social support is also associated with depression, especially among young adults. This study aimed to examine to what extent perceived social support mediated the relationship between ADHD symptoms and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

In total, 124 first year medical students completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Screener (ASRS), the Patient Health questionnaire-9 and the revised Thai Multidimensional scale of perceived social support reflecting ADHD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and perceive social support, i.e., family members, friends and other significant people, respectively. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the hypothesized mediation model.

RESULTS

ADHD symptoms exhibited a significant indirect effect on depressive symptoms via perceived social support. ADHD symptoms initially had a direct effect on depression; thereafter, it reduced to a non-significance effect after perceived social support was added. The total variance explained by this model was 35.2%. The mediation model with family support as a mediator showed the highest effect size.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlighted the importance of perceived social support, particularly family support, on depressive symptoms among young medical students experiencing ADHD symptoms. The model suggests promising relationships for further research on ADHD-related depression and potential treatment in the future.

Measuring Perceived Social Support in Elite Athletes: Psychometric Properties of the Romanian Version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support

The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is a brief measure designed to capture individuals' perceptions of the support received from their social networks. It has been translated into several languages and adapted for various cultural contexts. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the MSPSS, using a sample of young elite athletes. To assess its validity and reliability, 282 Romanian elite athletes (176 males, 106 females; 19 - 25 years old) completed the MSPSS together with questionnaires measuring life satisfaction, negative emotional disposition, and perceived stress. A confirmatory factor analysis underpinned a 12-item three-factor correlated model that was invariant over gender. Cronbach's alpha and Raykov's composite reliability coefficients together with average variance extracted showed adequate values for each factor. Correlational analysis displayed that three sources of social support positively correlated with life satisfaction and negative emotional disposition and negatively correlated with perceived stress. Altogether, the MSPSS is a valid and reliable short measure for Romanian elite athletes to explore perceived social support from their family, friends, or significant others.

Attachment anxiety, depression, and perceived social support: a moderated mediation model of suicide ideation among the elderly

OBJECTIVES

Issues concerning the association among attachment anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation among the elderly have rarely been explored. The present study investigated the relationship among attachment anxiety, depression and perceived support concerning suicidal ideation among older people.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Tertiary care settings.

PARTICIPANTS

The authors recruited 191 elderly patients from 10 tertiary care settings in Thailand.

MEASUREMENTS

Participants provided data on their suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt using Module C of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Their attachment anxiety was assessed using the revised Experience of Close Relationship questionnaire (ECR-R-18), while their level of depression was investigated using the Geriatric Depression Scale. In addition, their perception of being supported was ascertained using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. We performed two mediation analyses and moderation analyses separately using the product of coefficients approach. First, we created a mediation model to examine the role of attachment anxiety and depression on suicidal ideation. Second, a moderated mediation model was created to explore the relationship of perceived social support as a moderator of depression.

RESULTS

We found that depression significantly mediated the association between attachment anxiety and suicidal ideation. The association between depression and suicidal ideation was moderated by the level of perceived social support.

CONCLUSION

Findings of this study may broaden our understanding of how suicidal ideation develops among the elderly and further stimulate future research exploring the interaction of positive and negative factors of suicidality among the elderly. Implications of the findings were also discussed.

Quality of life and the associated factors among family caregivers of older people with dementia in Thailand

Long-term care for older people with dementia can adversely impact a family caregiver's life. A decrease in their quality of life may compromise the quality of care they provide to older people and their own quality of life. The samples include 76 family caregivers of older people with dementia in Thailand. Six questionnaires and the EuroQoL Five Dimensions Questionnaire were used in data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. The findings revealed that quality of life of family caregivers was at a high level. Experiences of close relationships between care dyads and perceived social support were positively related to family caregiver's quality of life, whereas perceived stress and burden were negatively related. Perceived social support and experiences of close relationships might be predictors of family caregiver's quality of life. High quality of life levels among Thai family caregivers of older people with dementia were influenced by high perceived social support and high experiences of close relationships. An intervention focusing on modifying such predicting factors may effectively help maintain quality of life of these family caregivers.

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

Objective: To assess factorial and construct validity along with reliability of the Russian version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in cardiac patients.Methods: The study included 1018 patients with coronary artery disease. All patients were offered the opportunity to complete a questionnaire to detect psychosocial risk and protective factors, including the MSPSS.Results: Internal consistency of the Russian version of the MSPSS was high: Cronbach's alpha coefficient in the group of patients with stable angina was .91 vs. .90 in the group with acute coronary syndrome. The three-factor structure of the MSPSS was proved with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. As expected, the Russian version of the MSPSS was negatively correlated with measures of anxiety and depression, and positively correlated with curiosity.Conclusions: The Russian version of MSPSS corresponds closely with the English version in reliability, consistency, and internal structure. Test-retest reliability was satisfactorally high and construct validity was supported with the results of the correlation analysis.Clinical Implications: Our study confirms that MSPSS questionnaire is a high valid tool to estimate social support and it can be successfully applied to define social support in patients with cardiac pathology.

Predictors of Passive and Active Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt Among Older People: A Study in Tertiary Care Settings in Thailand

PURPOSE

This study compared predictors of passive suicidal ideation (SI), active SI, and suicide attempt (SA) among elderly Thai patients in tertiary care settings.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Psychiatric diagnoses and suicidality of 803 older people were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR. All participants completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), 15-item Thai geriatric depression scale (TGDS-15), 10-item perceived social scale and the Core Symptoms Index. The chi-square test, t-test and ANOVA were used for bivariate analysis of predictors of specific suicidality types. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictors for each type of suicidality.

RESULTS

The patients' mean age was 69.24 ± 6.90 years, and the majority were female (69.74%). Passive SI, active SI and SA were found among 20.42%, 3.74% and 2.37%, respectively, of the patients. Major depressive disorder (MDD) was a predictor of both passive and active SI (OR = 2.06 and 3.74, respectively). Other predictors of passive SI included hypomania (OR = 8.27) and positive score on the TGDS-15 (OR = 1.29). Predictors of active SI included agoraphobia (OR = 6.84) and hypomania (OR = 7.10). Predictors of SA included a family history of alcohol dependence (OR = 14.16), a history of depression (OR = 4.78) and agoraphobia (OR = 19.89). Surprisingly, hypertension and self-reported anxiety symptoms were protective factors for passive SI (OR = 0.51 and 0.85, respectively). Likewise, MSPSS was a protective factor for SA (OR = 0.90).

CONCLUSION

Predictors of each type of suicidality differed. MDD was the main predictor for SI; however, agoraphobia and poor perceived social support were more pronounced among individuals with SA. Further investigation, especially in longitudinal fashion, should be warranted.

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

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.