Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39833852›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Development of a short version of the perceived social support scale: based on classical test theory and ant colony optimization.

Yunchou Wu, Jingqi Tang, Zhuoran Du, Ke Chen, Fei Wang, Xiaonan Sun, Guoying Zhang, Yibo Wu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

23 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yunchou Wu *Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Jingqi Tang *School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
Zhuoran DuDepartment of Psychology, School of Humanities, Southeast University, Nanjing, 214135, China.
Ke ChenDepartment of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China.
Fei WangState Key Laboratory of Cognition and Learning, Department of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
Xiaonan SunPublic Health College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
Guoying ZhangDongying People's Hosptial, Dongying, 257091, China. 15505462588@163.com.
Yibo WuSchool of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China. bjmuwuyibo@outlook.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the relatively small number of items on the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS-12), there has been a trend toward simplification of the scale in order to minimize testing time. In this situation, some researchers based on the responses of military spouses in the U.S., has simplified the PSSS-12 to develop the PSSS-M6. This study aimed to develop a short version of the PSSS-12 suitable for the Chinese general population.

methodsA multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was employed to collect data from 10,914 residents in 120 cities across the country. After randomly dividing the data into two parts, exploratory analysis and confirmatory analysis were conducted separately. During the exploratory analysis of dataset 1, the scale was simplified using both Classical Test Theory (CTT) and the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), resulting in one short form for each approach. Additionally, three short forms were obtained by introducing other short forms of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) scale derived from multidimensional item response theory in previous studies. The reliability and discriminant validity of the three short forms were tested. Subsequently, the reliability, validity, model fit and measurement invariance for the two short forms of the MSPSS scale were examined using dataset 2.

resultsThe 6-item short form developed based on the ACO (PSSS-A6) exhibited the best psychometric properties among all the short forms. Moreover, the 3-item short form composed of items with the highest factor loadings in each dimension also demonstrated good psychometric properties.

conclusionsIn future research, if a short form of the MSPSS scale is needed for measurement purposes, the 3-item short form is suitable for clinical settings, large-scale cross-sectional studies, or longitudinal studies, while the PSSS-A6 is more appropriate for more precise measurements.

trial registrationThis study underwent ethical review (JNUKY-2021-018) by Jinan University.

Indexed as

Social SupportAdultAgedChinaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPsychometricsReproducibility of ResultsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAnt colony optimizationClassical test theoryPerceived social supportScale simplification

Identifiers

PMID39833852
PMCPMC11745013

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.