Is marital discord taxonic and can taxonic status be assessed reliably? Results from a national, representative sample of married couples.

Addressing potential weaknesses in an earlier investigation, the authors examined the latent structure of marital discord using 4 product indicators from the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised (Snyder, 1997) in a representative sample of community couples (N = 1,020). Results from 3 taxometric procedures suggested that marital discord is taxonic, with an estimated base rate of .31. Cut scores for classifying members of this marital discord taxon were identified. Additional analyses with several data sets of community and clinic couples provided evidence that the marital discord taxon classification demonstrated good (a) 6-week test-retest reliability, (b) criterion validity (i.e., differences in taxon prevalence in community vs. clinic couples), and (c) construct validity (i.e., correlations with therapist ratings of relationship quality). These results suggest that discordant couples differ qualitatively and not just quantitatively from nondiscordant couples and that user friendly methods, suitable for a range of research and clinical applications, can be used to identify marital discord. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing How Much Couples Work at Their Relationship: The Behavioral Self-Regulation for Effective Relationships Scale.

It is widely believed that satisfying couple relationships require work by the partners. The authors equated the concept of work to relationship self-regulation and developed a scale to assess this construct. A factor analysis of the scale in a sample of 187 newlywed couples showed it comprised 2 factors of relationship strategies and effort. The factor structure was replicated in an independent sample of 97 newlywed couples. In both samples the scale had good internal consistency and high convergent validity between self- and partner-report forms. Self-regulation accounted for substantial variance in relationship satisfaction in both newlywed samples and in a 3rd sample of 61 long-married couples. The self-regulation and satisfaction association was independent of mood or self-report common method variance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recruitment and selection of couples for intervention research: Achieving developmental homogeneity at the cost of demographic diversity.

Demographic and relationship quality data were collected from 704 individuals recruited to participate in a randomized study of relationship enhancing interventions. Recruiting at bridal shows produced partners who were more satisfied, earlier in their relationships, and less likely to be parents, with a marginally higher proportion of Latino couples. Radio and television coverage produced more established couples with higher levels of relationship discord. Self-selection effects revealed that couples from demographic groups at greater risk for divorce (those who had not completed high school, those with children at marriage, and African American couples) were more likely to agree to participate. In contrast, imposing a set of common selection criteria served to exclude couples from demographic risk groups and selected for couples with higher marital quality. Implications for recruiting couples to participate in preventive interventions are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Acceptance in romantic relationships: The Frequency and Acceptability of Partner Behavior Inventory.

Despite the recent emphasis on acceptance in romantic relationships, no validated measure of relationship acceptance presently exists. To fill this gap, the 20-item Frequency and Acceptability of Partner Behavior Inventory (FAPBI; A. Christensen & N. S. Jacobson, 1997) was created to assess separately the acceptability and frequency of both positive and negative relationship behaviors. Data from 12,752 community individuals, 415 community couples, and 134 couples seeking marital therapy indicated that the FAPBI comprises four factors: Affection, Closeness, Demand, and Violation. These factors were consistent across gender, relationship type, and sexual orientation. Furthermore, the factors were internally consistent, correlated with relationship satisfaction, and differentiated couples seeking marital therapy from nondistressed couples in the community. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Screening for depressive disorders using the Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire Anhedonic Depression Scale: A receiver-operating characteristic analysis.

The present study examined the utility of the anhedonic depression scale from the Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire (MASQ–AD scale) as a way to screen for depressive disorders. Using receiver-operating characteristic analysis, we examined the sensitivity and specificity of the full 22-item MASQ–AD scale, as well as the 8- and 14-item subscales, in relation to both current and lifetime Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) depressive disorder diagnoses in two nonpatient samples. As a means of comparison, the sensitivity and specificity of a measure of a relevant personality dimension, Neuroticism, was also examined. Results from both samples support the clinical utility of the MASQ–AD scale as a means of screening for depressive disorders. Findings were strongest for the MASQ–AD 8-item subscale and when predicting current depression status. Furthermore, the MASQ–AD 8-item subscale outperformed the Neuroticism measure under certain conditions. The overall usefulness of the MASQ–AD scale as a screening device is discussed, as are possible cutoff scores for use in research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived threat and perceived neglect: Couples' underlying concerns during conflict.

The Couples Underlying Concern Inventory assesses 2 fundamental types of distress that couples experience during interpersonal conflict. Perceived threat involves a perception that one's partner is blaming and controlling the self. Perceived neglect involves a perception that one's partner is failing to make desired contributions or investments. Scales measuring these 2 underlying concerns were developed in Study 1, where a sample of 1,224 married people rated a pool of 57 words describing oneself and perceptions of a partner during a specific episode of conflict. Factor analysis identified 2 dimensions, and 2 brief 8-item scales were created. In Study 2, a sample of 2,315 married people completed the resulting 16-item inventory along with 10 self-report scales measuring types of emotion, cognition, and behavior during conflict. A 2-dimensional factor structure was confirmed, and measurement invariance was demonstrated across 4 racial/ethnic groups. Both perceived threat and perceived neglect correlated with relationship satisfaction and conflict communication. More importantly, each concern was associated with a different, and theoretically expected, set of variables regarding self emotion, emotion perceived in a partner, and cognition during conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The couple version of FACES III: Validity and reliability.

512 Australian couples completed the couple version of D. H. Olson's (1985) Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III (FACES III), which was devised to measure family functioning. While the items of FACES III were all useful in discriminating between couples high and low on the 2 factors (adaptability and cohesion), the construct validity was not supported by factor analyses. Construct validity problems may be overcome, at least to some extent, by using a 17-item version of the scale consisting of a 10-item cohesion factor and a 7-item change factor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prospective associations between marital discord and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults.

Data from both spouses in a population-based sample of middle-aged and older adults (N = 1,869 couples) were used to evaluate the 2-year prospective association between marital discord and depressive symptoms. Nested path analyses indicated that (a) baseline marital discord predicted one's own depressive symptoms at follow-up, (b) baseline depressive symptoms predicted one's own marital discord at follow-up, (c) baseline depressive symptoms predicted partners' marital discord at follow-up, and (d) there were no gender differences in the magnitudes of the pathways between one's own baseline depressive symptoms and one's own marital discord at follow-up or between one's own baseline marital discord and one's own depressive symptoms at follow-up. These results suggest a bidirectional longitudinal association between marital discord and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quantifying self-reports of auditory verbal hallucinations in persons with psychosis.

The Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire (HPSVQ) was developed to address the need for a brief, self-report measure that quantifies a range of the characteristics of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs). Each of the questionnaire's nine scored items utilizes a 5-point rating scale to yield a quantitative assessment of AVHs. The scale was well tolerated by a sample of 20 patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder at baseline and at one and eleven weeks postbaseline. It demonstrated good test-retest reliability over these intervals and good internal consistency. In addition, it demonstrated adequate concurrent validity when compared with the interviewer-rated Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scales Auditory Hallucinations subscale. The results of this pilot study suggest that the HPSVQ is potentially a reliable and useful measure for quantifying AVHs in persons suffering from psychosis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire: Validation of a parent-report screening measure.

This study evaluated the internal structure and convergent and discriminant evidence for the Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CLDQ), a 20-item parent-report rating scale that was developed to provide a brief screening measure for learning difficulties. CLDQ ratings were obtained from parents of children in 2 large community samples and 2 samples from clinics that specialize in the assessment of learning disabilities and related disorders (total N = 8,004). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed 5 correlated but separable dimensions that were labeled reading, math, social cognition, social anxiety, and spatial difficulties. Results revealed strong convergent and discriminant evidence for the CLDQ Reading scale, suggesting that this scale may provide a useful method to screen for reading difficulties in both research studies and clinical settings. Results are also promising for the other 4 CLDQ scales, but additional research is needed to refine each of these measures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The prevalence and biometric structure of pathological dissociation in the general population: taxometric and behavior genetic findings

Taxometric and biometric analyses were conducted on 2 North American samples to investigate the prevalence and biometric structure of pathological dissociation. Results indicated that approximately 3.3% of the general population belongs to a pathological dissociative taxon. A brief 8-item self-report scale called the DES-T can be used to calculate taxon membership probabilities in clinical and nonclinical samples of adults (a SAS scoring program is provided for this purpose). The genetic and environmental architecture of pathological dissociative symptoms was explored by conducting a biometric analysis on DES-T ratings from 280 identical and 148 fraternal twins. The findings suggest that approximately 45% of the observed variance on the DES-T can be attributed to shared environmental influences. The remaining variance is due to nonshared environmental influences.     

Impairment and distress associated with relationship discord in a national sample of married or cohabiting adults.

The clinical importance of relationship discord was examined through evaluating the association between relationship discord and multiple measures of impairment and psychological distress in a population-based sample of married and cohabiting adults (N = 2,677). In comparison to people that were not in discordant relationships, individuals in discordant relationships reported greater social role impairment with relatives and friends and greater work role impairment. They also reported higher levels of general distress and poorer perceived health and were more likely to report suicide ideation. With the exception of suicide ideation, the associations between relationship discord and impairment and psychological distress remained significant when controlling for current mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, suggesting that relationship discord is incrementally related to impairment and psychological distress over and above the effects of psychiatric disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spousal similarity in coping and depressive symptoms over 10 years.

Following a baseline sample of 184 married couples over 10 years, the present study develops a broadened conceptualization of linkages in spouses' functioning by examining similarity in coping as well as in depressive symptoms. Consistent with hypotheses, results demonstrated (a) similarity in depressive symptoms within couples across 10 years, (b) similarity in coping within couples over 10 years, and (c) the role of coping similarity in strengthening depressive similarity between spouses. Spousal similarity in coping was evident for a composite measure of percent approach coping as well as for component measures of approach and avoidance coping. The role of coping similarity in strengthening depressive symptom similarity was observed for percent approach coping and for avoidance coping. These findings support social contextual models of psychological adjustment that emphasize the importance of dynamic interdependencies between individuals in close relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing hopelessness in terminally ill cancer patients: Development of the Hopelessness Assessment in Illness Questionnaire.

Hopelessness has become an increasingly important construct in palliative care research, yet concerns exist regarding the utility of existing measures when applied to patients with a terminal illness. This article describes a series of studies focused on the exploration, development, and analysis of a measure of hopelessness specifically intended for use with terminally ill cancer patients. The 1st stage of measure development involved interviews with 13 palliative care experts and 30 terminally ill patients. Qualitative analysis of the patient interviews culminated in the development of a set of potential questionnaire items. In the 2nd study phase, we evaluated these preliminary items with a sample of 314 participants, using item response theory and classical test theory to identify optimal items and response format. These analyses generated an 8-item measure that we tested in a final study phase, using a 3rd sample (n = 228) to assess reliability and concurrent validity. These analyses demonstrated strong support for the Hopelessness Assessment in Illness Questionnaire providing greater explanatory power than existing measures of hopelessness and found little evidence that this assessment was confounded by illness-related variables (e.g., prognosis). In summary, these 3 studies suggest that this brief measure of hopelessness is particularly useful for palliative care settings. Further research is needed to assess the applicability of the measure to other populations and contexts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Screening for alcoholism among persons with recent traumatic brain injury.

This study examined the clinical utility of various brief screening procedures for identifying persons with a prior history of alcoholism among patients with recent traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants were 50 patients assessed for various aspects of alcohol use and abuse during their acute rehabilitation hospitalization. Predictive indicators were tested against the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) as the criterion measure. Results indicated the 13-item Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening test is a good proxy for the longer MAST in this population. The two screening questions by M. Cyr and S. Wartman (1988) also have some limited utility. Practical implications of the results are discussed with a view toward adopting universal screening for alcoholism among persons with recent TBI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

élaboration et validation du Questionnaire de Soutien Conjugal (QSC).

Although partner support represents a significant source of help amongst people (Beach, Fincham, Katz, & Bradbury, 1996; Cutrona, 1996), few valid and reliable measures of couple support are available. The current study presents the elaboration and validation of the “Questionnaire de soutien conjugal” (QSC), a brief measure evaluating given and received support within conjugal relationship. A sample of 270 French-Canadian couples completed the QSC and a short version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976; Sabourin, Valois, & Lussier, 2005). One year later, 160 couples agreed to complete the same measures again. Exploratory Factor Analyses supported the two-factor structure of the measure (provided support and received support); those factors predicted current and future couple satisfaction. QSC scales also showed good internal consistency as well as good test–retest reliability after a 1-year period. These findings reveal satisfactory psychometric properties and justify the QSC's use in clinical settings and research protocols. Strengths, limitations, and recommendations for futures research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of virus specific protease on virion morphogenesis

A 10-item Service Ethic Scale was developed and its relationship to personal and demographic variables was analyzed using a sample of secondary school administrators. Ninety-two usable surveys were obtained from a sample of 150 secondary school administrators randomly chosen from the 1994-1995 Louisiana Directory of Schools (Bureau of School Accountability, 1994). Results of exploratory factor analysis showed that the scale had 1 factor that explained 63.2% of the variance, and showed excellent reliability. The scale was significantly correlated with endorsement of the Protestant work ethic and the desire to implement an ethical values curriculum. However, the scale was not related to participants' gender, age, job tenure, or school location (i.e., rural or urban).     

Three-year follow-up of same-sex couples who had civil unions in Vermont, same-sex couples not in civil unions, and heterosexual married couples.

This study was a 3-year follow-up of 65 male and 138 female same-sex couples who had civil unions in Vermont during the 1st year of that legislation. These couples were compared with 23 male and 61 female same-sex couples in their friendship circles who did not have civil unions and with 55 heterosexual married couples (1 member of each was a sibling to a member of a civil union couple). Despite the legalized nature of their relationships, civil union couples did not differ on any measure from same-sex couples who were not in civil unions. However, same-sex couples not in civil unions were more likely to have ended their relationships than same-sex civil union or heterosexual married couples. Compared with heterosexual married participants, both types of same-sex couples reported greater relationship quality, compatibility, and intimacy and lower levels of conflict. Longitudinal predictors of relationship quality at Time 2 included less conflict, greater level of outness, and a shorter relationship length for men in same-sex relationships and included less conflict and more frequent sex for women in same-sex relationships at Time 1. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Equating the MOS SF36 and the LSU HSI Physical Functioning Scales

This study equates the physical functioning subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF36) and the Louisiana State University Health Status Instruments (LSU HSI). Data from the SF36's 10-item physical functioning scale, the PF10, and the LSU HSI's 29-item Physical Functioning Scale (PFS), were fit to separate and mixed Rasch rating scale models. Data were provided by a convenience sample of 285 patients waiting for appointments in a public hospital general medicine clinic. Difficulty estimates for a subset of similar items from the two instruments were highly correlated (.95), indicating that the items from the two scales are working together to measure the same variable. The measures from the two equated instruments correlate .80 (.86 when disattenuated for error). Of the two instruments, the PFS's error is lower, model fit is better, and reliability coefficients are higher. Both instruments measure physical functioning, and can do so in a common unit of measurement. Conversion tables are provided for transforming raw scores from either instrument into the common metric.