title: Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Patients With Heart Failure.
abstract: Low social support is associated with worse outcomes in patients with heart failure. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).
  
  
  
  We performed a secondary analysis of registry data from patients (n = 475) with confirmed heart failure.
  
  
  
  The MSPSS demonstrated excellent internal consistency reliability. Factor analysis yielded 3 factors that explained 83% of the variance in perceived social support. More than half of the sample had depressive symptoms (56%). Hypothesis testing demonstrated that worse perceived social support was a predictor of depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  The MSPSS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure perceived social support in patients with heart failure.
authors.forename: Shannon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Shumaker
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Frazier
authors.forename: Debra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Misook L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards*; D012042:Registries; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards