Convergent validity and psychometric properties of an original instrument for assessing marital relationship quality

Abstract

Marital relationship quality is regarded as one of the significant psychological factors associated with spouses’ psychological well-being and family stability. In this context, the development of psychodiagnostic instruments that enable a comprehensive assessment of marital relationship quality while taking into account its multidimensional structure is particularly relevant. The aim of the study was to evaluate the initial psychometric properties of an author-developed instrument for assessing marital relationship quality, including its internal consistency and convergent validity. The scientific significance of the study lies in the development and initial psychometric evaluation of an instrument that assesses marital relationship quality through a system of interrelated domains. The study involved 85 respondents who were in formal or stable marital relationships. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, structural relationships between the domains and the overall score were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and convergent validity was examined by comparing the results of the author-developed instrument with those of the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). The results demonstrated a very high level of internal consistency for the author-developed instrument (α = 0.96). A strong positive correlation was found between the scores of the author-developed instrument and the RDAS (r = 0.84), supporting its initial convergent validity. All domains demonstrated substantial associations with the overall marital relationship quality score, with the strongest correlations observed for emotional security, dyadic coping, couple autonomy, and intimate closeness. The value of the study lies in the possibility of examining marital relationship quality not only through an overall score but also through a system of its individual structural components, thereby allowing relatively strong and vulnerable aspects of relationships to be identified. The findings provide a basis for further psychometric validation of the author-developed instrument in larger samples. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential application of the instrument in scientific research, family psychological counseling, family support centers, and other areas of psychological practice involving married couples.

Keywords: family psychology, marital relationship quality, marriage duration, spouses, psychological well-being, life satisfaction.