Mokken scaling of the Chinese version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey.
OBJECTIVE
To validate the Chinese Mandarin version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS-CM) using a model of ordinal unidimensional measurement known as Mokken scaling.


METHODS
We administered in face-to-face interviews the MOS-SSS-CM to 200 patients with coronary heart disease. Data were analysed using Mokken scaling.


RESULTS
The MOS-SSS-CM contains a set of items which meet the criteria of a reliable (Rho = 0.87) moderate Mokken scale (H = 0.40) with weak invariant item ordering (H = 0.39).


CONCLUSIONS
The MOS-SSS-CM has a hierarchy of items which can be interpreted in terms of concerns with the physical aspects of social support through the need for companionship to items related to more personal worries.
Cardiovascular Research Centre, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia, david.thompson@acu.edu.au.
David R
DR
Thompson
Chantal F
CF
Ski
Roger
R
Watson
Wenru
W
Wang
D002681:China; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations