Psychometric Characteristics of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
Abstract
The initial study describing the development of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) indicated that it was a psychometrically sound instrument (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley, 1988). The current study attempted to extend the initial findings by demonstrating the internal reliability, factorial validity, and subscale validity of the MSPSS using three different subject groups: (a) 265 pregnant women, (b) 74 adolescents living in Europe with their families, and (c) 55 pediatric residents. The MSPSS was found to have good internal reliability across subject groups. In addition, strong factorial validity was demonstrated, confirming the three-subscale structure of the MSPSS: Family, Friends, and Significant Other. Finally, strong support was also found for the validity of the Family and Significant Other subscales.
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The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support is a 12-item measure of perceived support from family, friends and significant others.
“Examples include the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support 229 , a 12-item measure of perceived support from family, friends and significant others.”
From The clinical characterization of the adult patient with an anxiety or related disorder aimed at personalization of management (2021) · cites this paper as [229]
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The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
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- Authors
- Zimet, G., Powell, S., Farley, G., Werkman, S., & Berkoff, K.
- Affiliations
- Case Western Reserve University (US)
- Georgetown University (US)
- ORCID
- Zimet, Gregory
- Venue
- Journal of Personality Assessment
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1990-12-01
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 610-617
- ISSN
- 0022-3891 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2059262594
- Cited by
- 4,854
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 330 · 2025: 445 · 2024: 510 · 2023: 509 · 2022: 525 · 2021: 456 · 2020: 361 · 2019: 236 · 2018: 228 · 2017: 174 · 2016: 199 · 2015: 169 · 2014: 131 · 2013: 136 · 2012: 89
- FWCI
- 1.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality Assessment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Education › Health Education and Validation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, perceived social support, psychometric validation, internal consistency, factorial validity, family support, friend support, significant other support, pregnant women, adolescents, pediatric residents
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Psychology, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Internship and Residency, Male, Pediatrics, Personality Development, Personality Inventory, Pregnancy, Pregnancy in Adolescence, Psychometrics, Social Support
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