title: The eight-item modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey: psychometric evaluation showed excellent performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation and validation of the psychometric properties of the eight-item modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (mMOS-SS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analyses of data from three populations: Boston breast cancer study (N=660), Los Angeles breast cancer study (N=864), and Medical Outcomes Study (N=1,717). The psychometric evaluation of the eight-item mMOS-SS compared performance across populations and with the original 19-item Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SS). Internal reliability, factor structure, construct validity, and discriminant validity were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, principal factor analysis (PFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Spearman and Pearson correlation, t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  mMOS-SS internal reliability was excellent in all three populations. PFA factor loadings were similar across populations; one factor >0.6, well-discriminated two factor (instrumental/emotional social support four items each) >0.5. CFA with a priori two-factor structure yielded consistently adequate model fit (root mean squared errors of approximation 0.054-0.074). mMOS-SS construct and discriminant validity were similar across populations and comparable to MOS-SS. Psychometric properties held when restricted to women aged ≥ 65 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The psychometric properties of the eight-item mMOS-SS were excellent and similar to those of the original 19-item instrument. Results support the use of briefer mMOS-SS instrument; better suited to multidimensional geriatric assessments and specifically in older women with breast cancer.
authors: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, CH 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Moser
authors: Andreas E
authors: AE
authors: Stuck
authors: Rebecca A
authors: RA
authors: Silliman
authors: Patricia A
authors: PA
authors: Ganz
authors: Kerri M
authors: KM
authors: Clough-Gorr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States