Perceived Social Support in Older Adults After Natural Disasters

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 Significant Others, and Support from Family), which accounted for 85.84% of the variance. All subscales demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach’s α = 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 wellbeing of this vulnerable population.