MOS Social Support Survey
Also known as: MOS-SS, Medical Outcomes Study Support Scale
The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SS) is a 19-item self-report measure of social support developed by Sherbourne and Stewart in 1991. It assesses functional aspects of social relationships—emotional, informational, tangible, and social companionship support—relevant to health outcomes in diverse populations.
Key highlights
- Multidimensional assessment of social support types (emotional, informational, tangible, companionship)
- Brief 19-item format reduces respondent burden while maintaining psychometric integrity
- Strong predictive validity for mental health outcomes, healthcare utilization, and mortality
- Validated across diverse populations, health conditions, and cultural groups
- Sensitive to changes in social support following interventions or life events
Intuition
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How it works
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When to use it
The MOS-SS is appropriate for adults across health conditions, particularly in research examining social determinants of health outcomes and in interventions targeting social isolation. It is valuable in mental health research, chronic disease management, and health disparities studies. Population-specific adaptations exist for specific populations (e.g., HIV, cancer, elderly).
Strengths & limitations
- Multidimensional assessment of social support types (emotional, informational, tangible, companionship)
- Brief 19-item format reduces respondent burden while maintaining psychometric integrity
- Strong predictive validity for mental health outcomes, healthcare utilization, and mortality
- Validated across diverse populations, health conditions, and cultural groups
- Sensitive to changes in social support following interventions or life events
- Measures perceived rather than objective social support; reported availability may diverge from actual support received
- Limited assessment of support quality or adequacy for specific needs; focuses on quantity and type
- Potential responder bias: depression and anxiety may color perceptions of support availability
- Normative data vary significantly by population; careful comparison group selection is essential
Common pitfalls
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Applications
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Frequently asked
What is the difference between MOS-SS and network measures of social support?
MOS-SS measures perceived functional support available to the person, regardless of network size. Network measures count number of relationships and frequency of contact. A person with few contacts but strong support (high MOS-SS) differs from one with many weak ties (large network but low MOS-SS). The two often correlate but measure distinct constructs.
Does a low MOS-SS score always mean social isolation?
Low MOS-SS scores may reflect isolation but also depression, anxiety, or negative affect that colors perception of support. Some socially isolated individuals report adequate support; others with many relationships perceive minimal support. Clinical assessment should combine MOS-SS with objective network information.
What does an MOS-SS domain score of 50 indicate?
A domain score of 50 (on 0–100 scale) indicates moderate perceived support in that domain. Whether this is clinically concerning depends on context and the person's needs; someone with limited support during mental health crisis would be at higher risk than someone with stable health.
Can MOS-SS be used in non-English speaking populations?
Yes; the MOS-SS has been translated and validated in 20+ languages. When using translations, ensure the version has been psychometrically validated in the target population and that cultural adaptations appropriately reflect local concepts of social support.
Sources
- 1.Sherbourne, C. D., & Stewart, A. L. (1991). The MOS Social Support Survey. Social Science & Medicine, 32(6), 705–714.
- 2.Stewart, A. L., Hays, R. D., & Ware, J. E. (1988). The MOS Short-Form General Health Survey: reliability and validity in a patient population. Medical Care, 26(7), 724–735.
- 3.Cohen, S. (1992). Stress, social support, and disorder. In S. H. Friedman (Ed.), Hostility, coping, and health (pp. 109–128). American Psychological Association.
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Cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). MOS Social Support Survey. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/health-measurement/mos-social-support-survey