A revised Thai Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support

Area of Science:

• Psychological Measurement
• Social Psychology

Background:

• The Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is widely used to assess social support.
• Ensuring the construct validity of the MSPSS is crucial for accurate measurement of perceived social support.
• A three-factor model is commonly associated with the MSPSS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To revise and test a modified version of the MSPSS to enhance its construct validity.
• To compare the model fit of the original MSPSS with the revised version.
• To assess the internal consistency and convergent validity of the revised MSPSS.

Main Methods:

• Development of a revised MSPSS with a minor modification.
• Administration of the original and revised MSPSS, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory II to 486 medical students.
• Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to compare model fit and assess internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and correlations.

Main Results:

• The revised MSPSS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .92).
• The revised version showed a significant correlation with other scales, supporting convergent validity.
• Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable model fit for the revised MSPSS, outperforming the original version.

Conclusions:

• The revised MSPSS exhibits enhanced construct validity and internal consistency.
• The modified scale effectively differentiates between sources of perceived social support.
• The revised MSPSS is a reliable instrument for measuring perceived social support in similar populations.