Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) Across Sexual Orientation and Gender

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) people experience marginalization, negatively impacting their social, physical, and other mental health outcomes. Studies on LGBTQ+ people utilize scales developed largely for cisgender and heterosexual (cis-hetero) people. This study explored the factor structure, construct validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) using a sample of 1,436 adults in the United States. Roughly one-fifth of the sample identified as gender-diverse (19.08%; n = 274), as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or a sexual orientation other than straight (20.61%; n = 296), and from a race or ethnicity other than White (20.06%; n = 288). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) supported a three-factor measurement model of the MSPSS with gender-diverse people and people who have a marginalized sexual orientation. Invariance tests revealed thresholds were similar across the cis-hetero, marginalized sexual orientations, and gender-diverse groups, supporting measurement invariance. Further, the MSPSS had good internal reliability and convergent construct validity, suggesting sufficient psychometric evidence for use of the MSPSS with people marginalized based on gender and sexual orientation.