Measured Perceived Social Support Among Men with Disabilities: Implications for Social Work

The present study aimed to assess perceived social support among males with disabilities in a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Da Nang city, Vietnam. To satisfy the study purpose, the researchers employed primarily a quantitative single-case study design, along with four additional single-case study designs. The authors also utilized the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (Zimet et al., 1988) and implemented other demographic questionnaires to collect data through structured interviews. For the case studies, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews. The study results demonstrated that the MSPSS Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.855, presenting a significant interpretation. In addition, discriminant validity was supported by the Fornell-Larcker and HTMT measures, although the SO-FR group exhibited a confidence interval bootstrapping value greater than 1, indicating limited statistical discrimination. Primarily, there was no multicollinearity to investigate; however, a poor model fit necessitates further model refinement. The present study reported that male trainees with disabilities perceive varying degrees of social support from families, friends, and other special relationships, ranging from moderate to high, with the most significant level being modest. In essence, many participants found it difficult to establish connections within multiple social relationships, which may considerably affect the quality of life for these trainees with disabilities. Regarding social work practicums, all case studies emphasized the role of social work practice in enhancing these social relationships. The study concluded with implications for social work and a summary of the findings.