Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Arabic Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey-6 among Saudi Adults
Background: Perceived social support represents a key factor influencing both mental and physical health, yet brief Arabic measures are scarce. Objectives: To assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the abbreviated 6-item Medical Outcomes Study–Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS-6) a...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_767_24 |
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| Summary: | Background:
Perceived social support represents a key factor influencing both mental and physical health, yet brief Arabic measures are scarce.
Objectives:
To assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the abbreviated 6-item Medical Outcomes Study–Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS-6) among Saudi adults.
Methods:
An online questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms to assess perceived social support, psychological distress, quality of life (QoL), and coping. Cronbach’s alpha (α), McDonald’s omega (ω), and corrected item-total correlations were used to evaluate the scale’s reliability. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on 50% of the sample, using maximum likelihood with varimax rotation to identify factor structure. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) validated the model in the other 50%, with fit assessed through RMSEA, SRMR, CFI, TLI, and other indices. Concurrent validity was evaluated through Pearson’s correlations with relevant psychological measures.
Results:
A total of 1028 Saudi adults completed the questionnaire. Suitability of the data for EFA was supported by a strong KMO value (0.83) and significant Bartlett’s test of sphericity (P < 0.001). Parallel analysis indicated that a three-factor solution was optimal, explaining 80% of the variance. CFA confirmed this model with excellent fit indices (CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.02, GFI = 0.99, AGFI = 0.95). Negative relationships with depression (r = −0.24, P < 0.01) and anxiety (r = −0.17, P < 0.01), and a positive correlation with QoL (r = 0.37, P < 0.01) and adaptive coping strategies provided evidence for concurrent validity. The Arabic MOS-SSS-6 exhibited high internal consistency (α = 0.90, ω = 0.90).
Conclusions:
The Arabic MOS-SSS-6 is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring perceived social support among Saudi adults, demonstrating significant correlations with psychological variables relevant for psychological assessments and interventions. |
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| ISSN: | 1658-631X 2321-4856 |