Social provision scale, Portuguese version: development and validation study

This article presents three validation studies of the Escala de Provisoes Sociais (EPS), the Portuguese version of the Social Provisions Scale, a questionnaire that purports to measure perceived social Support. The EPS is based on a theoretical model that postulates that Support acts through the provision of a number of resources individuals need when faced with stressful situations: Guidance, Reliable Alliance, Attachment, Social Integration, Reassurance of Worth and Opportunity for Nurturance. The EPS allows for the assessment of each of these provisions in separate, as well as of global perceived support, and also of two intermediate dimensions of Intimate and Casual Support. Studies here presented show that the EPS provides reliable scores (both retest and internal consistency). Validity was also demonstrated, by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and by correlations with other measures. One may conclude that its convergent and discriminate validity make EPS a good measure of the varied facets of perceived social Support.