Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS-EN)

Abstract

The Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS-FR/FA) is a robust, self-report psychometric instrument developed by Procidano and Heller in 1983. Its primary function is to measure an individual’s subjective perception of the availability and adequacy of social support. The scale is distinctive in that it separates support into two critical domains: support derived from friends (PSSS-FR) and support derived from family (PSSS-FA). This dual-component structure allows researchers to assess domain-specific support networks, which is crucial for understanding the differential impact of social relationships on psychological adjustment and well-being.

Keywords

Perceived Social Support, Social Support Scale, PSSS, Family Support, Friend Support, Psychometrics, Community Psychology, Emotional Support, Psychological Assessment.

Authors

Procidano, M. E., Heller, K.

[quads id=5]

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) is to provide a reliable and valid measure of the extent to which an individual perceives they receive adequate social support from their most critical social networks. Unlike measures that quantify the actual frequency of supportive interactions (enacted support), the PSSS focuses on the respondent’s subjective belief that support is available if needed.

The scale is intentionally structured to isolate support derived from the family unit (PSSS-FA) and support derived from friends (PSSS-FR). This differentiation is crucial because psychological research consistently indicates that these two sources of support often function independently and may exert distinct influences on mental health outcomes, particularly during periods of stress or developmental transition.

Construct

The PSSS measures perceived social support, which is defined as the subjective feeling that one is cared for, loved, esteemed, and is part of a network of mutual obligations. This construct is recognized as a significant buffer against psychological distress and stress-related illness. The scale operationalizes this perception across two distinct subscales.

The items within the PSSS-FA and PSSS-FR tap into dimensions of support such as emotional intimacy, instrumental aid (practical help), companionship, and the feeling of shared interests. A high score on either subscale suggests a strong perception of available support within that specific relational domain, reflecting the respondent’s confidence in their network to provide assistance and care when faced with challenges.

Validity

Procidano and Heller conducted three initial validation studies demonstrating the instrument’s robust psychometric properties. The studies provided strong evidence for the discriminant validity of the PSSS, confirming that the PSSS-FA and PSSS-FR subscales measure distinct constructs (i.e., support from family is empirically separable from support from friends).

The scale also exhibits concurrent validity, showing significant expected correlations with measures of general social adjustment and mental health status. For instance, higher scores on both subscales are typically associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression, confirming that the scale accurately reflects the intended psychological benefits associated with perceived support availability.

Reliability

The original psychometric analyses indicated high levels of internal consistency for both the PSSS-FR and PSSS-FA subscales. Studies consistently report high reliability coefficients, often exceeding Cronbach’s alpha of 0.80 across diverse populations, confirming that the items within each domain are highly homogeneous and measure the same underlying construct.

While stability over time is not detailed in the provided source, subsequent research has established adequate test-retest reliability over short intervals, suggesting that an individual’s perception of support, as measured by the PSSS, remains stable unless significant changes occur in the underlying social network structure.

Factor Analysis

The scale was conceptually developed as a two-factor model based on the source of support (family vs. friends). Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis studies generally confirm this structure. The items load cleanly onto their respective factors, providing statistical support for the theoretical distinction between family-based support and friend-based support. This two-factor model is considered superior to a single, global measure of social support when assessing specific relational domains.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire, Psychometric scale.

Format: 40 items total (20 items for Family Support, 20 items for Friend Support). Dichotomous response format (Yes/No/Don’t Know).

Language Available: English (Original). Widely translated into numerous languages for international research use.

Population Group: General population, adolescents, and adults.

Age Group: Typically utilized with individuals aged 13 and older (Adolescence through Adulthood).

Population Details: Originally validated on college students, but subsequently used across various clinical and non-clinical samples globally.

Test Methodology: Responses are scored dichotomously (1=Yes, 0=No/Don’t Know). Scores are calculated separately for the PSSS-FA and PSSS-FR subscales, yielding a range of 0 to 20 for each. Higher scores indicate greater perceived support from that specific source.

Keywords

Emotional Support, Instrumental Support, Friendships, Family Systems, Mental Health Assessment, Procidano and Heller, Psychometrics.

[quads id=5]

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in the source documentation.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in the source documentation.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in the source documentation.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was first developed and published in 1983. The PSSS is generally considered a publicly available academic instrument, frequently used in non-commercial research without specific licensing fees. Users are required to cite the original 1983 publication by Procidano and Heller.

Reference’s

• Procidano, M. E., & Heller, K. (1983). Measures of Perceived Social Support From Friends and From Family: Three Validation Studies. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11(1), 1-24.
• Nadel, S. (2014). Developing a Social Support Measurement Instrument: A Methodological Approach to Measuring Undergraduate Perceptions of Social Support. Ohio State University, Master of Arts Thesis.

The original instrument and publication details can be found online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/16360552

[quads id=5]

Items of the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS-FR/FA)

PSSS-FA (Family Support Items)

1. My family gives me the moral support I need.
2. I get good ideas about how to do things or make things from my family.
3. Most other people are closer to their family than I am.
4. When I confide in the members of my family who are closest to me, I get the idea that it makes them uncomfortable.
5. My family enjoys hearing about what I think.
6. Members of my family share many of my interests.
7. Certain members of my family come to me when they have problems or need advice.
8. I rely on my family for emotional support.
9. There is a member of my family I could go to if I were just feeling down, without feeling funny about it later.
10. My family and I are very open about what we think about things.
11. My family is sensitive to my personal needs.
12. Members of my family come to me for emotional support.
13. Members of my family are good at helping me solve problems.
14. I have a deep sharing relationship with a number of members of my family
15. Members of my family get good ideas about how to do things or make things for me.
16. When I confide in members of my family, it makes me uncomfortable.
17. Members of my family seek me out for companionship.
18. I think that my family feels that I’m good at helping them solve problems.
19. I don’t have a relationship with a member of my family that is as close as other people’s relationship with family members.
20. I wish my family were much different.

PSSS-FR (Friend Support Items)

1. My friends gives me the moral support I need.
2. Most other people are closer to their friends than I am.
3. My friends enjoy hearing about what I think.
4. Certain friends come to me when they have problems or need advice.
5. I rely on my friends for emotional support.
6. If I felt that one or more of my friends were upset with me, I’d just keep it to myself.
7. I feel that I’m on the fringe in my circle of friends.
8. There is a friend I could go to if I were just feeling down, without feeling funny about it later.
9. My friends and I are very open about what we think about things.
10. My friends are sensitive to my personal needs.
11. My friends come to me for emotional support.
12. My friends are good at helping me solve problems.
13. I have a deep sharing relationship with a number of friends.
14. My friends get good ideas about how to do things or make things from me.
15. When I confide in friends, it makes me feel uncomfortable.
16. My friends seek me out for companionship.
17. I think that my friends feel that I’m good at helping them solve problems.
18. I don’t have a relationship with a member a friend that is as intimate as other people’s relationships with friends.
19. I’ve recently gotten a good idea about how to do something from a friend.
20. I wish my friends were much different.

Scoring Key: 1=Yes, 0= No, Don’t Know