Measures of perceived social support from friends and from family: Three validation studies

TLDR

The authors developed and validated measures of perceived social support from friends and family. Three studies were conducted to create and assess the psychometric properties of the PSS‑Fr and PSS‑Fa scales. The PSS scales were internally consistent, distinct constructs; higher family support correlated more strongly with lower distress and was mood‑independent, while higher friend support was linked to better social competence, lower trait anxiety, and more self‑talk, and friend support ratings were reduced by negative mood.

Abstract

Three studies are described in which measures of perceived social support from friends (PSS-Fr) and from family (PSS-Fa) were developed and validated. The PSS measures were internally consistent and appeared to measure valid constructs that were separate from each other and from network measures. PSS-Fr and PSS-Fa were both inversely related to symptoms of distress and psychopathology but the relationship was stronger for PSS-Fa. PSS-Fr was more closely related to social competence. PSS-Fa was unaffected by either positive or negative mood states (self-statements), but the reporting of PSS-Fr was lowered by negative mood states. High PSS-Fr subjects were significantly lower in trait anxiety and talked about themselves more to friends and sibs than low PSS-Fr subjects. Low PSS-Fa subjects showed marked verbal inhibition with sibs.