Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support

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Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support

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About Scale Name

Scale Name

Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support

Author Details

Zimet, Gregory D. Dahlem, Nancy W. Zimet, Sara G. Farley, Gordon K.
gzimet@iu.edu

Translation Availability

Urdu

Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support

Background/Description

The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is a psychometric tool that measures an individual’s perceived level of social support across three dimensions: family, friends, and significant others. It was developed by Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, and Farley in 1988 and has since been widely used in research and clinical settings.

The MSPSS consists of 12 items, with four items measuring each dimension of support (family, friends, and significant others). Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (very strongly disagree) to 7 (very strongly agree). Example items include “There is a special person who is around when I am in need” (significant other dimension), “I can talk about my problems with my family” (family dimension), and “I have friends with whom I can share my joys and sorrows” (friends dimension).

The MSPSS has been used in a variety of populations and contexts, including among individuals with chronic illnesses, older adults, and adolescents. It has been found to have good reliability and validity, with higher scores on the MSPSS indicating greater perceived social support. The tool can be used to assess an individual’s social support network, identify areas of need for social support, and track changes in perceived social support over time.

Administration, Scoring and Interpretation

The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) can be administered in several ways, including in-person interviews, self-administered paper-and-pencil questionnaires, or computer-based surveys.

During an in-person interview, the interviewer would read each question aloud to the participant and record their responses on the questionnaire. For self-administered paper-and-pencil questionnaires, the participant would complete the questionnaire on their own by reading each question and selecting the most appropriate response. For computer-based surveys, the questionnaire would be presented on a computer screen, and the participant would click on their chosen response for each item.

The MSPSS consists of 12 items, with four items measuring each dimension of support (family, friends, and significant others). Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (very strongly disagree) to 7 (very strongly agree). After the questionnaire is completed, the scores for each dimension are added together to obtain a total score for perceived social support.

The total score ranges from 12 to 84, with higher scores indicating greater perceived social support. Additionally, scores for each dimension can be calculated separately, with higher scores indicating greater perceived social support from that particular source.

Reliability and Validity

The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) has been found to have good reliability and validity.

Reliability refers to the consistency of the measurement over time and across different populations. The MSPSS has been found to have good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.85 to 0.94 for the total scale and from 0.81 to 0.93 for the subscales (family, friends, and significant others). Test-retest reliability coefficients have also been found to be high, ranging from 0.73 to 0.85 for the total scale and from 0.64 to 0.89 for the subscales.

Validity refers to the extent to which a measure accurately assesses what it is intended to measure. The MSPSS has been found to have good construct validity, which refers to the degree to which a measure relates to other measures in a theoretically consistent manner. For example, the MSPSS has been found to be positively correlated with measures of mental health and negatively correlated with measures of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress, indicating that higher levels of perceived social support are associated with better mental health outcomes.

Additionally, the MSPSS has been found to have good discriminant validity, which refers to the degree to which a measure is able to distinguish between different groups. For example, the MSPSS has been found to be able to distinguish between individuals with and without a chronic illness, with those with a chronic illness reporting lower levels of perceived social support.

Available Versions

12-Items

Reference

Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30–41. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2

More Information: Click here

The MSPSS is free to use. Please simply credit the following paper (and any others that are relevant), if you use the scale.

Important Link

Scale File:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)?
The MSPSS is a psychometric tool that measures an individual’s perceived level of social support across three dimensions: family, friends, and significant others.

How many items are in the MSPSS?
The MSPSS consists of 12 items, with four items measuring each dimension of support (family, friends, and significant others).

How is the MSPSS administered?
The MSPSS can be administered in several ways, including in-person interviews, self-administered paper-and-pencil questionnaires, or computer-based surveys.

How is the MSPSS scored?
Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (very strongly disagree) to 7 (very strongly agree). After the questionnaire is completed, the scores for each dimension are added together to obtain a total score for perceived social support.

What is the range of scores for the MSPSS?
The total score ranges from 12 to 84, with higher scores indicating greater perceived social support. Additionally, scores for each dimension can be calculated separately, with higher scores indicating greater perceived social support from that particular source.

Is the MSPSS a reliable and valid measure?
Yes, the MSPSS has been found to have good reliability and validity. It has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability, as well as good construct and discriminant validity.

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