Initial psychometric properties of the medical outcomes study social support survey in caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Brazil

This study investigated the initial evidence of internal structure and convergent validity of the Brazilian version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) in caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities. This study included 185 caregivers of individuals with disabilities who were users of a non-governmental organization in southeastern Brazil. We performed exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency reliability, and predictive validity analyses. Our results demonstrated a one-dimensional internal structure for the adapted scale, consisting of nineteen items and presenting good precision coefficients (α = 0.96 and ω = 0.96) and composite reliability (0.96). Also, the MOS-SSS showed convergent validity with the Family APGAR Scale and the family support and self-control factors of the Informal Caregiver Burden Assessment Questionnaire-Short Version. These findings suggest that the Brazilian version of the MOS-SSS has adequate psychometric properties and can be used in this context and population.