Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the medical outcome study social support survey among mothers of children aged 6–23 months in Indonesia

Background: Social support significantly influences a mother's adherence to complementary feeding guidelines, with family support fostering a positive attitude towards this practice. The Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) is a multidimensional scale designed to evaluate functional aspects of social support, but no instrument has been validated for Indonesia. Purpose: The study aims to validate the MOS-SSS instrument for measuring mothers' social support in providing complementary food to infants and young children aged 6–23 months in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 196 mothers with children aged 6–23 months in West Sumatera, Indonesia. The MOS-SSS's internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach alpha, composite reliability, and split-half analysis, while its construct validity was evaluated using convergent and discriminant validity. Results: The Indonesian version of the MOS-SSS among mothers with children aged 6–23 months has been found to be satisfactory in content validity through translation and expert review. The questionnaire exhibits strong convergent and discriminant validity, reliable construct reliability, and internal consistency. Conclusions and implications: The MOS-SSS questionnaire was found to be reliable and valid in measuring the social support mothers perceive in providing complementary feeding to their infants and young children. Future research should explore the psychometric properties of the Indonesian version of the MOS-SSS in various populations, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, and women with special conditions.