Psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the medical outcomes study social support survey (MOS‐SSS‐C)

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS‐SSS‐C) in a sample of 110 patients. Criterion‐related and construct validities of the MOS‐SSS‐C were evaluated by correlations with the Chinese version of the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Survey ( r = .82) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ( r = −.58). Confirmatory factor analysis affirmed the four‐factor structure of the MOS‐SSS‐C in measuring the functional aspects of perceived social support. Cronbach's alphas for the subscales ranged from .93 to .96, whereas the alpha for the overall scale was .98. The 2‐week test–retest reliability of the MOS‐SSS‐C as measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient was .84. The MOS‐SSS‐C is a psychometrically sound multidimensional measure for the evaluation of functional aspects of perceived social support by Chinese patients with chronic disease. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 27:135–143, 2004