title: Psychometric properties of the revised Malay version Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey using confirmatory factor analysis among postpartum mothers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social support is an essential component for the physical and emotional well-being of postpartum mothers. The objective of this study is to determine the psychometric properties of the revised Malay version Medical Outcome Study (MOS) Social Support Survey using a confirmatory validity approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 144 postpartum mothers attending Obstetric and Gynecology Clinic, Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital. Construct validity and internal consistency assessment was performed after the translation, content validity and face validity process. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and AMOS 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The original questionnaire consists of four domains (emotional/informational support, tangible support, affectionate support and positive social interaction) and 19 items. Affectionate support domain with three items only was treated as a separate construct and was not included in the factor analysis. The final confirmatory model with three constructs and 13 items demonstrated acceptable factor loadings, domain to domain correlation and best fit; (χ2[df]=1.665 [61]; P-value=0.001; Tucker-Lewis Index=0.944; comparative fit index=0.956; root mean square error of approximation=0.068). Composite reliability, average variance extracted and Cronbach's α of the domains ranged from 0.649 to 0.903; 0.390 to 0.699; 0.616 to 0.902, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggested that the four-factor model with 16 items (including one separate factor of affectionate) of the revised Malay version MOS Social Support Survey was acceptable to be used to measure social support after childbirth because it is valid, reliable and simple.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Mohd Noor
authors: MN
authors: Norhayati
authors: Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Kota, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.
authors: Abd Aziz
authors: AA
authors: Aniza
authors: Women's Health Development Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Nik Hussain
authors: NH
authors: Nik Hazlina
authors: Medical Division, Kelantan State Health Department, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Mohd Yacob
authors: MY
authors: Azman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: health care; postpartum; psychometric; questionnaire; social support