MSPSS Scoring Guide — Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS): 12-item self-report measure of perceived social support across Family, Friends, and Significant Other subscales. Score 1–7 per item.
What is the MSPSS?
The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is a 12-item self-report instrument developed by Gregory D. Zimet and colleagues at the Indiana University School of Medicine (1988). It assesses an individual's subjective perception of social support — how supported they feel, not how much support is objectively available.
The MSPSS measures perceived support from three distinct sources:
- Significant Other — Items 1, 2, 5, 10: "There is a special person who is around when I am in need"
- Family — Items 3, 4, 8, 11: "My family really tries to help me"
- Friends — Items 6, 7, 9, 12: "My friends really try to help me"
Each subscale captures a qualitatively different type of social resource. It is common for individuals to show discrepant profiles — strong family support but weak peer support, for example — which has specific clinical implications.
MSPSS Scoring
All 12 items use a 7-point Likert response format:
| Score | Label |
|---|---|
| 1 | Very strongly disagree |
| 2 | Strongly disagree |
| 3 | Mildly disagree |
| 4 | Neutral |
| 5 | Mildly agree |
| 6 | Strongly agree |
| 7 | Very strongly agree |
There are no reverse-scored items.
Subscale score = Mean of the 4 relevant items (range 1–7)
Total scale score = Mean of all 12 items (range 1–7)
Higher scores indicate greater perceived social support.
MSPSS Interpretation
| Mean score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 1–2.9 | Low perceived support |
| 3–5 | Moderate perceived support |
| 5.1–7 | High perceived support |
These bands are approximations based on the normative literature rather than validated clinical cutoffs. Total and subscale means are typically reported; comparing to published normative data for the relevant population (age, clinical status, culture) improves interpretive validity.
Clinical Relevance
Depression and Anxiety
Low perceived social support is both a risk factor for and consequence of depression and anxiety. MSPSS scores in the low range (especially on Significant Other and Friends subscales) correlate significantly with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 severity. Treatment planning for clients with low social support may need to address social isolation and relationship-building alongside symptom reduction.
PTSD and Trauma
Social support is one of the strongest protective factors against developing PTSD after trauma exposure. The MSPSS is commonly administered alongside the PCL-5 in trauma-focused programmes. Low scores on the Significant Other subscale are particularly associated with poor trauma recovery and should inform case formulation.
Perinatal Mental Health
Low perceived social support is a well-established risk factor for perinatal depression and anxiety. The MSPSS is widely used in postpartum screening programmes to identify mothers at risk. Low Family and Significant Other scores may indicate partners or families who are not providing adequate support.
Burnout and Occupational Stress
In healthcare workers and other high-stress occupations, low perceived social support (particularly from colleagues and supervisors, reflected in Friends subscale) predicts burnout. The MSPSS can inform occupational health assessments.
Psychometric Properties
- Internal consistency: α = 0.85–0.91 (total scale); α = 0.85–0.92 per subscale (Zimet et al., 1988; 1990)
- Three-factor structure: Confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis across multiple studies
- Test-retest reliability: r = 0.72–0.85 over 2–3 months
- Convergent validity: Negatively correlated with depression and anxiety; positively correlated with wellbeing, positive affect, and coping
The MSPSS has been validated in over 40 languages and across populations including adolescents, older adults, patients with chronic illness, cancer, HIV, and psychiatric inpatients.
Track Social Support in HiBoop
HiBoop administers and scores the MSPSS alongside depression, anxiety, PTSD, and functional measures. Subscale and total scores are tracked longitudinally, with graphs available in the clinician dashboard.
References
- 1.Zimet GD, Dahlem NW, Zimet SG, Farley GK. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. J Pers Assess. 1988;52(1):30–41.View source
- 2.Zimet GD, Powell SS, Farley GK, Werkman S, Berkoff KA. Psychometric characteristics of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. J Pers Assess. 1990;55(3–4):610–617.View source
- 3.Dahlem NW, Zimet GD, Walker RR. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support: A confirmation study. J Clin Psychol. 1991;47(6):756–761.View source
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the MSPSS measure?
The MSPSS (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) measures a person's subjective perception of the social support they receive from three distinct sources: (1) Family — support from one's family of origin or immediate family; (2) Friends — support from one's peer social network; (3) Significant Other — support from a partner, spouse, or other key individual. The scale does not measure the objective availability of support, but how supported the person feels. Low MSPSS scores are associated with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and burnout.
How is the MSPSS scored?
The MSPSS contains 12 items (4 per subscale) each rated on a 7-point Likert scale: 1 = Very strongly disagree, 2 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Mildly disagree, 4 = Neutral, 5 = Mildly agree, 6 = Strongly agree, 7 = Very strongly agree. Subscale scores are the mean of the 4 respective items (range 1–7 per subscale). The total scale score is the mean of all 12 items (range 1–7). Higher scores indicate greater perceived support. There is no reverse scoring.
What are the MSPSS interpretation cutoffs?
There are no universally adopted clinical cutoffs for the MSPSS. Interpretation is typically based on mean item scores: a mean below 3 on any subscale (or overall) suggests low perceived support in that domain, a mean of 3–4 is considered moderate support, and a mean above 5 is considered high perceived support. Research by Zimet and colleagues provides normative data across populations; comparison to relevant normative samples is recommended when interpreting individual scores.
Is the MSPSS free to use?
The MSPSS is in the public domain and free to use for clinical and research purposes. The 12 items are published in the original Zimet et al. (1988) paper and the scale has been widely translated and validated in over 40 languages. No licensing fees are required for clinical use.
When is the MSPSS clinically useful?
The MSPSS is clinically useful for assessing social support as a protective or risk factor: in depression and anxiety, where perceived isolation amplifies symptom severity; in PTSD and trauma treatment, where social support is a key resilience factor; in chronic illness and adjustment disorders; in perinatal mental health (postpartum depression, anxiety); and in burnout assessment. Low MSPSS scores in the context of depression or anxiety often indicate a need to address social isolation directly in treatment planning.
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