Japanese version of the perceived goal support scale: Construct validity in opposite- and same-gender friendships

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that in addition to perceived emotional support reducing recipients' distress and maintaining their health, it also promotes recipients' achieving personal goals. The present authors developed and tested the construct validity of a Japanese version of the Perceived Goal Support Scale (Molden, Lucas, Finkel, Kumashiro, & Rusbult, 2009). Participants completed a questionnaire about their relationships with close friends of the opposite gender (w=173) or same gender (w = 211). As expected, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the Japanese version of the Perceived Goal Support Scale measured support for promotion-focused and prevention-focused goals in both types of relationships. Each of these subscales showed sufficient internal consistency. Relationship type and gender differences were found in the subscale scores. These 2 subscales systematically corresponded to external criterion variables such as emotional support, instrumental support, diversity of interaction, intimacy, interpersonal stressors, and subjective well-being. The longitudinal stability and correlation with external criteria of these subscales were also confirmed over a 2-week period. Implications for psychological research and applicability to the topic of perceived goal support are discussed.