Abstract
Perceived social support is a key factor in the recovery and well-being of individuals with mental health disorders. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is a widely used instrument to measure social support, but its psychometric properties in clinical populations in Spain have not been explored. This study evaluates the factorial structure, internal consistency, measurement invariance, and convergent evidence of the MSPSS in a sample of community mental health service users.
A sample of 345 adults (M = 46.6 years, SD = 11.9), users of community mental health rehabilitation services (55.4% men), diagnosed with a severe mental disorder, participated in the study. The Spanish version of the MSPSS was administered alongside the Maryland Assessment of Recovery Scale (MARS-12) and the Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS) to gather convergent evidence. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to examine the scale’s dimensionality and test factor invariance across gender. Additionally, reliability was assessed using McDonald’s omega (ω) and Cronbach’s alpha (α).
Factor analysis confirmed the three-factor structure of the MSPSS (significant others, family support, and friend support), with factor loadings above .83 and a good model fit. Reliability was excellent for both the total scale (ω = .92, α = .92) and its subscales. Factor invariance across gender groups was confirmed, allowing for valid comparisons. Additionally, the MSPSS showed significant correlations with the MARS-12 (r = .44, p < .001) and DHS (r = .44, p < .001), providing convergent evidence.
The findings support the MSPSS scores as valid and reliable for assessing perceived social support in a clinical sample of individuals with mental health diagnoses in Spain. Their application can help identify support needs and enhance mental health care.
| Poster | Validation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in Mental Health Service Users |
|---|---|
| Author | Guilera, G. (1,2), Sampietro, H. M. (1,3), Berrío, Á. I. (1), Barrios, M. (1,2) |
| Affiliation | (1) Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona; (2) Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona; (3) ActivaMent Catalunya Associació |
| Keywords | Validation; Mental health; Social support |
