Validation of the Japanese Version of the Survey of Perceived Supervisor Support

Abstract

: Perceived supervisor support (PSS) is an important factor in employees’ health and well-being, and organizational outcomes. This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the Survey of Perceived Supervisor Support (SPSS-J) and to evaluate its validity and reliability for assessing PSS in Japanese workers. The SPSS-J, including its subscales, SPSS-J (Sufficiency of Positive Aspects [SPA]) and SPSS-J (Minimality of Negative Aspects [MNA]), was developed based on the Japanese version of the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support (SPOS-J). An online survey was conducted with 1,946 participants, followed after two weeks by a test-retest survey with 589 participants. Structural validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and convergent validity was evaluated through Pearson’s correlations. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were determined using Cronbach’s α coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). CFA confirmed that the two-factor model provided a generally good fit, supporting structural validity. Both SPSS-J (SPA) and SPSS-J (MNA) demonstrated expected correlations with SPOS-J and its subscales, as well as possible antecedents (e.g., job autonomy and strengths-based performance appraisal) and outcomes (e.g., work engagement, organizational affective commitment, and turnover intention). The SPSS-J (SPA) consistently showed stronger correlations than the SPSS-J (MNA). Its internal consistency was high, with Cronbach’s α coefficients of .92 for SPSS-J (SPA) and .87 for SPSS-J (MNA). The test-retest reliability was also high, with ICCs of 0.77 and 0.74, respectively. Our study indicates that the SPSS-J is a reliable and valid tool for assessing PSS. The SPSS-J (SPA) may offer a practical alternative as a shortened version, reducing respondent burden.