Scientific background: Social Support
About this test
The MSPSS was published in 1988 by Gregory Zimet, Nancy Dahlem, Sara Zimet, and Gordon Farley in the Journal of Personality Assessment. It consists of twelve statements that group into three four-item subscales: support from a special, close person, from family, and from friends. In the original study the scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha .88 for the total scale; .91 / .87 / .85 for the three subscales) and a stable three-factor structure that has since been replicated across many languages and samples. Scoring is by means: for each subscale, the sum of its four items divided by four; for the total score, the sum of all twelve items divided by twelve.
Dimensions
Overall Perceived Support
Average across all twelve items (1.00–7.00). The low / moderate / high split follows the mean-score ranges from the authors' official scoring sheet (1–2.9 low, 3–5 moderate, 5.1–7 high). These are orientation values, not diagnostic thresholds.
Significant Other
Average across the four items about a special, close person (your choice: partner, close friend, family member). The low / moderate / high split follows the mean-score ranges from the authors' official scoring sheet (1–2.9 low, 3–5 moderate, 5.1–7 high). These are orientation values, not diagnostic thresholds.
Family
Average across the four items about support from family. The low / moderate / high split follows the mean-score ranges from the authors' official scoring sheet (1–2.9 low, 3–5 moderate, 5.1–7 high). These are orientation values, not diagnostic thresholds.
Friends
Average across the four items about support from friends. The low / moderate / high split follows the mean-score ranges from the authors' official scoring sheet (1–2.9 low, 3–5 moderate, 5.1–7 high). These are orientation values, not diagnostic thresholds.
Sources & license
Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30–41.
The MSPSS is explicitly made freely available for use by its authors; all that is required is citing the original source, and no separate written permission is needed. The scale carries no Creative Commons license and is not formally in the public domain. The interpretation ranges (mean 1–2.9 low, 3–5 moderate, 5.1–7 high) come from the authors' official scoring sheet. Item wording and response anchors are the authors' originals (the ampersand in item 4 is written out as "and").
https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2