Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)

Abstract

The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is a concise, 12-item self-report questionnaire developed by Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, and Farley (1988). It is designed to measure an individual’s subjective evaluation of the availability and adequacy of perceived social support. The scale is structured to identify support derived from three distinct sources: family, friends, and a significant other. Due to its robust reliability and validity across diverse populations, the MSPSS is extensively used in psychological research and clinical settings to assess support systems, identify individuals at risk for social isolation or loneliness, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing social connectedness.

Keywords

Perceived Social Support, MSPSS, Zimet, Social Support Measurement, Family Support, Friendship Support, Significant Other Support, Psychological Assessment, Coping.

Authors

Zimet, G.D., Dahlem, N.W., Zimet, S.G., Farley, G.K.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the MSPSS is to provide a quick and psychometrically sound method for quantifying the subjective experience of social support. Unlike measures that count objective interactions, the MSPSS focuses on the respondent’s belief that supportive resources are accessible and adequate within their social network, which is often a stronger predictor of psychological well-being than objective support metrics.

The scale is particularly useful for clinical screening and research, allowing professionals to quickly identify perceived deficits in support from specific sources (e.g., family versus friends). This targeted information can be critical in designing effective therapeutic or social interventions for individuals dealing with mental health challenges, physical illnesses, or high levels of stress.

Construct

The MSPSS measures the construct of Perceived Social Support, defined as the degree to which an individual feels loved, valued, and cared for, and the belief that assistance is available from others. The scale is inherently multidimensional, distinguishing between the sources of support rather than aggregating them into a single score. These three core dimensions reflect the most critical relationships in an individual’s life:

• Family Support: Perception of help, emotional availability, and assistance with decision-making from family members.
• Friends Support: Perception of reliability, emotional sharing, and practical help available from peers and friends.
• Significant Other Support: Perception of comfort, care, and emotional availability from a single, special individual (e.g., partner, spouse, or close confidant).

Validity

The MSPSS has demonstrated strong evidence of validity across numerous cross-cultural and clinical studies. Its convergent and discriminant validity is supported by correlations with other measures of social support and weak correlations with unrelated constructs. The consistent emergence of the three distinct factors (Family, Friends, Significant Other) in factor analytic studies provides robust evidence for its construct validity, confirming that the scale accurately measures the intended multidimensional structure of perceived support.

Despite being a self-report questionnaire, which is theoretically susceptible to social desirability bias, the scale’s predictive validity has been repeatedly confirmed through its significant associations with positive mental health outcomes, effective coping strategies, and reduced incidence of psychological distress.

Reliability

The scale is recognized for its high internal consistency. Across various populations, the overall MSPSS score typically yields high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, often exceeding 0.85, indicating excellent reliability. Furthermore, the three subscales—Family, Friends, and Significant Other—also maintain high internal consistency, generally ranging between 0.80 and 0.90, confirming that the items within each factor reliably measure the support perceived from that specific source.

Factor Analysis

The foundational research by Zimet et al. (1988) established a clear three-factor structure for the MSPSS, which has been consistently replicated through subsequent factor analysis studies. The 12 items divide cleanly into three groups, each consisting of four items corresponding to the source of support:

• Family Subscale (Fam): Items 3, 4, 8, 11.
• Friends Subscale (Fri): Items 6, 7, 9, 12.
• Significant Other Subscale (SO): Items 1, 2, 5, 10.

This empirical confirmation of the scale’s multidimensional design is a primary strength, allowing for nuanced analysis beyond a simple total support score.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire

Format: 12 items scored on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Very Strongly Disagree to 7 = Very Strongly Agree). Total scores range from 12 to 84.

Language Available: Available in a variety of languages, having been translated and validated for use in numerous non-English speaking populations globally.

Population Group: General Population; widely used in both clinical and non-clinical samples.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults.

Population Details: Originally validated on undergraduate students, subsequent research has confirmed its psychometric properties in diverse groups, including urban adolescents and individuals facing chronic health conditions.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement with statements concerning the availability and quality of support from their family, friends, and a significant other. Scoring involves summing the scores for the three subscales and the total scale score. Higher scores indicate greater perceived social support.

Keywords

Psychological Assessment, Mental Health Research, Coping Mechanisms, Social Isolation, Loneliness, Likert Scale, Multidimensional Measurement, Psychometrics, Adolescent Psychology.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected] (Correspondence email for Ronald Okada, Professor of Psychology, listed in the source context)

Correspondence Address: Ronald Okada, Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1988

Permissions/Fee: The MSPSS is generally regarded as an accessible instrument for non-commercial academic research use. Researchers should consult the original authors (Zimet et al.) or the journal of publication for specific permission requirements, especially for commercial applications.

Reference’s

Canty-Mitchell, J. & Zimet, G.D. (2000). Psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in urban adolescents. American Journal of Community Psychology, 28, 391-400.

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, 30-41.

Zimet, G.D., Powell, S.S., Farley, G.K., Werkman, S. & Berkoff, K.A. (1990). Psychometric characteristics of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 55, 610-17.

Items of the Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS)

Instructions: We are interested in how you feel about the following statements. Read each statement carefully. Indicate how you feel about each statement.

Circle the “1” if you Very Strongly Disagree

Circle the “2” if you Strongly Disagree

Circle the “3” if you Mildly Disagree

Circle the “4” if you are Neutral

Circle the “5” if you Mildly Agree

Circle the “6” if you Strongly Agree

Circle the “7” if you Very Strongly Agree