Abstract

Background: Older adults are a vulnerable population following natural disasters, and perceived social support (PSS) is a critical factor for their resilience and recovery. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is a widely used instrument, but its psychometric properties have not been adequately validated for use with older adult disaster survivors.

Methods: This study assessed the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the MSPSS in a sample of older adults (aged 50+) affected by the 2019 Dallas tornado. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted on a sample of 82 participants, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to confirm the structure on a larger sample of 197 participants.

Results: EFA confirmed the hypothesized three-factor structure (Support from Friends, Support from Signif icant Others, and Support from Family), which accounted for 85.84% of the variance. All subscales demon strated excellent reliability (Cronbach's a = 0.94-0.97). CFA indicated good model fit (CFI = 0.957), and the scale demonstrated strong convergent and discriminant validity, with all average variance extracted (AVE) values above 0.80.

Conclusion: The MSPSS is a valid and reliable tool for measuring perceived social support among older adults in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Its use can aid researchers and practitioners in assessing support needs, developing targeted interventions, and informing policies to promote recovery and improve the wellbe ing of this vulnerable population.Conclusion: The MSPSS is a valid and reliable tool for measuring perceived social support among older adults in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Its use can aid researchers and practitioners in assessing support needs, developing targeted interventions, and informing policies to promote recovery and improve the wellbe ing of this vulnerable population.

DOI: doi.org/10.63721/25JPMHC0109

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