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Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support for Arab American Adolescents

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

The multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) was revised for Arab American adolescents (MSPSS-AA). Items measuring social support from significant others were omitted and items measuring support from school personnel were added based on advice from cultural experts. The sample consisted of 635 Arab American young adolescents in metropolitan Detroit. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the proposed three-factor solution (family, friends, and school personnel). Internal consistency coefficients for the three subscales of family (α = 0.63), friends (α = 0.75), school personnel (α = 0.72) were good. As predicted, perceived support from family, friends, and school personnel were inversely related to self reports of daily hassles and internalizing behavior and positively related to assistance seeking coping, which provides evidence for construct validity. Support for discriminant validity was also demonstrated with significantly larger correlations between the MSPSS-AA Family subscale and daily hassles specific to parents and the MSPSS-AA Friend subscale and daily hassles specific to peers. These finding suggest that the MSPSS-AA is reliable and valid for use with Arab-American adolescents.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, Mother-Child Adjustment in Arab Immigrants and Refugees, R01NR 008504, Karen Aroian—Principal Investigator. We wish to thank the author of the original measure, Dr. Gregory Zimet, for granting permission for adapting the MSPSS for use with Arabs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Vidya Ramaswamy

  2. College of Nursing, University of Central Florida, HPA I, Room 217, Orlando, FL, 32816-2210, USA

    Karen J. Aroian

  3. Center for Health Research, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Thomas Templin

Authors
  1. Vidya Ramaswamy
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  2. Karen J. Aroian
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  3. Thomas Templin
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Correspondence to Karen J. Aroian.

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Ramaswamy, V., Aroian, K.J. & Templin, T. Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support for Arab American Adolescents. Am J Community Psychol 43, 49–56 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-008-9220-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-008-9220-x

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