Validity evidence for the multidimensional scale of perceived social support at university and safety perception at campus questionnaire

Abstract

Abstract The social support and safety perceived by higher education students are known to be associated with mental health indicators, improving outcomes in emotional, social, and academic aspects. This study analyzed the validity evidence of a multidimensional scale of perceived social support and safety at the university, based on its internal structure and relationships with external variables. We also tested an explicative model between social support and safety perception at university to explain student achievement. Data was collected at a Brazilian public university, from which 3,484 students participated. Both scales have shown to be promising for evaluating the perceived social support and safety of students. The model indicates the centrality of professors’ support to promote students’ safety and achievement perceptions.