Validation of the Personal Social Capital Scale-16 in Portugal: preliminary data on Portuguese and immigrants

Abstract

Summary Objectives The Personal Social Capital Scale 16 (PSCS-16) is a self-report measure used to assess social capital, as a social determinant of health. To guarantee validated measures of this construct, the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the PSCS-16 were studied. Methods The PSCS-16 comprises 16 items, organized in two scales: bonding and bridging social capital. A convenience sample of 280 participants was collected through an online survey. For construct validity, we used confirmatory factor analysis, and convergent and discriminant validity through the average variance extracted (AVE) and correlations. For reliability, we used: The Spearman–Brown split-half and the omega hierarchical coefficient. Correlations were made between the PSCS-16 and socio-demographic variables. Results A first-order model depicting two oblique factors was supported, suggesting the use of the two scales. Evidence of convergent validity was achieved: acceptable AVE and associations between social capital and emotional self-disclosure. For discriminant validity, the AVE values surpassed the squared correlation between bonding and bridging, and associations with sexual health were found to be absent. Reliability was good. Additional correlations: A positive association between the education level and bridging social capital and participants with an immigrant status having more bridging social capital. Conclusions Preliminary findings support the Portuguese version of PSCS-16 as suitable to evaluate social capital. Contributions are highlighted: the need to study correlates of social capital, particularly crossing migrations, social capital and mental health; and confirming the structure found by measuring its invariance.