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

Brugnoli, Adriana Vieira Macêdo; Gonçalves, Tonantzin Ribeiro; Silva, Renato Canevari Dutra da; Pattussi, Marcos Pascoal

doi:10.1590/1413-812320222711.08592022EN

Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Brasil

Español English

sumário « anterior atual seguinte »

Sumário

FREE THEMES • Ciênc. saúde coletiva 27 (11) • Nov 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320222711.08592022EN copy

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

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

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.

Key words:
Social support; Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; University students

Variables		EFA sample		CFA sample		TRT sample
Variables		n	EFA %	n	CFA %	n	%
Sex
	Female	791	69	805	70.2	230	66.3
	Male	356	31	342	29.8	117	33.7
Age (years)
	18-20	282	24.6	300	26.2	169	48.7
	20-22	379	33	408	35.6	103	29.7
	23-24	276	24.1	232	20.2	43	12.4
	>24	210	18.3	207	18.1	32	9.2
Skin color
	White	673	58.7	644	56.2	206	59.4
	Black/brown	418	36.4	451	39.3	132	38
	Other	56	4.9	52	4.5	9	2.6
Marital status
	Partner	138	12.1	129	11.3	30	8.6
	Without partner	999	87.9	1,012	88.7	317	91.4
Living situation
	Live alone	361	31.7	394	34.7	144	41.5
	Live with family/partner	624	54.8	588	51.8	137	39.5
	Live with friends/fellow students	154	13.5	154	13.6	66	19
Economic class*
	Class A	491	45.2	486	44.1	83	23.9
	Class B	466	42.9	496	45	193	55.6
	Class C, D, E	130	12	121	11	71	20.5

Questions	RV	One factor EFA	RV	Two factor EFA		RV	Three factor EFA
Questions	RV	F1	RV	F1	F2		F1	F2	F3
1-There is a special person who is around when I am in need.	0.348	0.807*	0.301	0.176*	0.728*	0.211	0.889*	0.000	0.040
2-There is a special person with whom I can share my joys and sorrows.	0.284	0.846*	0.235	0.203*	0.748*	0.084	0.956*	-0.007	0.007
3- My family really tries to help me.	0.193	0.898*	0.126	0.939*	-0.008*	0.123	0.016	0.932*	-0.006*
4-I get the emotional help and support I need from my family.	0.137	0.929*	0.067	0.979*	-0.025	0.066	0.015	0.972*	-0.024*
5-I have a special person who is a real source of comfort to me.	0.396	0.777*	0.331	0.446*	0.486*	0.265	0.639*	0.352*	-0.020
6-My friends really try to help me.	0.217	0.885*	0.173	0.056*	0.878*	0.150	0.005	0.072*	0.883*
7-I can count on my friends when things go wrong.	0.178	0.907*	0.138	-0.005	0.931*	0.120	-0.018	0.014	0.943*
8-I can talk about my problems with my family.	0.357	0.802*	0.242	0.839*	0.056*	0.231	-0.041	0.838*	0.101*
9-I have friends with whom I can share my joys and sorrows.	0.176	0.908*	0.137	-0.014	0.937*	0.123	0.043	-0.011	0.911*
10-There is a special person in my life who cares about my feelings.	0.374	0.791*	0.306	0.442*	0.508*	0.240	0.636*	0.343*	0.013
11-My family is willing to help me make decisions.	0.255	0.863*	0.158	0.895*	0.041	0.153	-0.013	0.887*	0.045
12-I can talk about my problems with my friends.	0.201	0.894*	0.156	-0.018	0.928*	0.141	0.024	-0.013	0.917*
Eigenvalue		7.961		7.961	1.617		7.961	1.617	0.890
Cronbach’s alfa (α)		0.988		0.981	0.967		0.960	0.967	0.967
χ2 (d.f.), p-value		3225 (54). p<0.001		1999 (43). p<0.001			660 (33). p<0.001
SRMR		0.179		0.074			0.025
RMSEA		0.228		0.201			0.130
CFI		0.933		0.958			0.987
TLI		0.918		0.936			0.973

Scale item	% Agreement	% Weighted Agreement	Kappa	Weighted Kappa
1-There is a special person who is around when I am in need.	48.70	83.05	0.27	0.37
2-There is a special person with whom I can share my joys and sorrows.	51.30	85.59	0.27	0.44
3-My family really tries to help me.	66.57	89.72	0.33	0.42
4-I get the emotional help and support I need from my family.	60.23	88.04	0.35	0.45
5-I have a special person who is a real source of comfort to me.	58.50	86.07	0.29	0.36
6-My friends really try to help me.	51.59	86.94	0.35	0.49
7-I can count on my friends when things go wrong.	51.87	87.18	0.35	0.49
8-I can talk about my problems with my family.	56.77	86.50	0.38	0.50
9-I have friends with whom I can share my joys and sorrows.	50.72	86.79	0.31	0.47
10-There is a special person in my life who cares about my feelings.	55.33	86.89	0.26	0.41
11-My family is willing to help me make decisions.	62.54	88.42	0.39	0.48
12-I can talk about my problems with my friends.	52.16	87.27	0.35	0.52

ABRASCO - Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva Av. Brasil, 4036 - sala 700 Manguinhos, 21040-361 Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brazil, Tel.: +55 21 3882-9153 / 3882-9151 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: cienciasaudecoletiva@fiocruz.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Collaborations

All authors participated directly in study conception and planning and in drafting the article. However, the following authors’ contributions should be highlighted: AVM Brugnoli contributed to study conception and data collection, tabulation and analysis. RCD Silva contributed to study conception and statistical analysis. TR Gonçalves contributed to study conception, data analysis, and to drafting and revising the final version of the article. MP Pattussi provided supervision and contributed to defining the study methodology, data analysis, and drafting the final version of the article.