Empirical validation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory in a nonclinical sample.

Scheer, Nancy S.; Snyder, Douglas K.

doi:10.1037/0022-006x.52.1.88

Cited by 28 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Content, convergent, and discriminant validity of the MSI subscales have been demonstrated (Berg & Snyder, 1981;Snyder, Willis, & Keiser, 1981). Validity has been established in both distressed and nondistressed couples (Scheer & Snyder, 1984). In the present study, couples scored in the nondistressed range.…”

Section: Questionnaires and Behavioral Ratingsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Affect Expression, Marital Satisfaction, and Stress Reactivity Among Premenopausal Women During A Conflictual Marital Discussion

Morell

Apple

1990

Psychology of Women Quarterly

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Relationships between women's affect expressions, marital satisfaction, and cardiovascular reactivity were investigated. Twenty‐four healthy women and their spouses completed the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI). Women's cardiovascular reactivity was monitored during a 10‐minute videotaped husband‐wife conflict discussion that later was rated for affect expressions. Regression analysis showed that active negative affect accounted for 20% of the variability in systolic blood pressure. Neither positive affects nor MSI Global Marital Distress was related to women's cardiovascular responses. For women, 53% of the variance in MSI Global Marital Distress was accounted for by total negative affect, but for men affects and marital distress were unrelated. Further research is warranted on the associations between marital distress, affect expression, and cardiovascular reactivity that may lead to physical and mental health problems.

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Section: Questionnaires and Behavioral Ratingsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Affect Expression, Marital Satisfaction, and Stress Reactivity Among Premenopausal Women During A Conflictual Marital Discussion

Morell

Apple

1990

Psychology of Women Quarterly

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“…In addition to its ability to differentiate between couples in marital therapy and matched controls (Snyder, 1979b), the MSI is sensitive to distress in nonclinical populations (Scheer & Snyder, 1984). For this study, the Global Distress Scale was employed as a dependent variable as were the five scales thought to most directly reflect marital satisfaction that were combined into an MSI summary index.…”

Section: Marital Satisfaction Inventorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Dysfunctional Beliefs, Belief Similarity, and Marital Distress: A Comparison of Models

Jones¹,

Stanton²

1988

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

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Although often examined separately, the joint influence of belief similarity and dysfunctionality on relationship satisfaction has not been investigated, and conceptual models to guide this inquiry are lacking. The present study compared five models of how similarity and irrationality may contribute individually and jointly to marital distress. Multiple measures of those constructs were administered to 49 nonclinical married couples. A content model received support when actual similarity was considered, such that dysfunctional relationship beliefs (assessed by the Relationship Belief Inventory, Eidelson & Epstein, 1 982), but not actual similarity in those beliefs, were associated with distress. Also, marriage-relevant beliefs were associated more strongly with distress than were more general irrational beliefs. When spouses' perceived belief similarity was examined, both dysfunctionality and perceived similarity predicted distress, supporting an additive model for females and an interactive model for males.The ability to accurately predict one's spouse's relationship beliefs was unrelated to marital distress.The role of cognitive factors in enhancing or interfering with functioning in interpersonal relationships has received increasing attention (Berley & Jacobson, 1984;Epstein, 1982;Stuart, 1980). Two general approaches to the study of such cognitions have emerged in the theoretical and experimental literature. The first of these focuses on the contribution of the congruence of couples' cognitions to relationship satisfaction and distress. A second approach has as its focus the content of the couples' attitudes or beliefs. The present study examines marital distress as a function of both the similarity and the content of spouses' dysfunctional marriage-relevant beliefs.The literature demonstrating that attitude similarity is a powerful determinant of interpersonal attraction has provided a major focus for the study of cognition in relationships. Early research by Byrne and Requests for reprints should be sent to

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“…In addition to these studies, several large-scale investigations have examined the convergent and discriminant validity of the MSI scales in samples of both clinic and nonclinic couples (Scheer & Snyder, 1984;Snyder & Lachar, 1986;Snyder, Wills, & Keiser, 1981). In each of these studies, individuals' scores on the MSI were related to clinicians' independent ratings reflecting the areas and degree of spousal conflict, chronicity of marital distress, degree of emotional and personal difficulties of each spouse interfering with the marital relationship, and the relationship's long-term prognosis.…”

Section: The Marital Satisfaction Inventorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Computer‐based Interpretation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory: Use in Treatment Planning

Snyder

Lachar

Wills

1988

J Marital Family Therapy

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This paper describes the computer-based interpretive system for the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) and its application in initial phases of clinical assessment and treatment planning. The automated MSI interpretive report contains sections regarding profile validity and global marital affect, spousal communication, specific areas of interaction, concerns regarding children, role orientation, and family history of distress. A case study and sample narrative demonstrate the manner in which the MSI computerized report can be incorporated into initial clinical assessment and treatment planning. Clinical findings at intake are compared with MSIprofiles for this couple obtained at termination and follow-up. Both strengths and limitations of self-report measures and computer-based interpretive reports in marital therapy are considered.Although computer-based test interpretive systems (CBTIs) have been operational for nearly 25 years (Fowler, 1985), their availability and adoption in routine clinical practice have grown exponentially in recent years. Advocates of computer-assisted assessment note the reliability and speed of the computer in administering and scoring standardized tests, and its ability to integrate empirical findings regarding base-rates and test-behavior relationships in configural analyses limited only by the availability of relevant actuarial data and the sophistication of the test programmer. Computerized administration, scoring, or interpretation of psychological tests is currently available for nearly 100 instruments, and new applications appear regularly. Despite concerns regarding the use of psychological data, computer-generated or otherwise, computerbased interpretive reports appear destined to assume an increasing role in clinical services.As the availability of CBTIs has grown, so too has concern for their empirical bases and professional issues governing their use (Matarazzo, 1986). Several authors have emphasized that the validity of computer-based interpretations "depends on the validity of the test itself and on the degree to which the interpretive statements match the test Close NextConuentionalization (CNV). This validity scale assesses individuals' tendencies to distort the appraisals of their marriage in a socially desirable direction. Items reflect denial of minor, commonly occurring marital difficulties and efforts to describe the relationship in an unrealistically positive manner.Global Distress (GDS). This global measure assesses respondents' overall dissatisfaction with the marriage. Items reflect general marital discontent, chronic disharmony, desire for marital therapy, and consideration of separation or divorce. Affective Communication (AFC). This scale focuses on the process of verbal and nonverbal communication andis the best single index of the affective quality of the couple's relationship. Items reflect spouses' dissatisfaction with the amount of affection and understanding expressed by their partners. 398 JOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY October 1988 Next Previ...

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Empirical validation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory in a nonclinical sample.

Cited by 28 publications

References 16 publications

Affect Expression, Marital Satisfaction, and Stress Reactivity Among Premenopausal Women During A Conflictual Marital Discussion

Affect Expression, Marital Satisfaction, and Stress Reactivity Among Premenopausal Women During A Conflictual Marital Discussion

Dysfunctional Beliefs, Belief Similarity, and Marital Distress: A Comparison of Models

Computer‐based Interpretation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory: Use in Treatment Planning

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