Psychometrics of the Dyadic Coping Inventory in Three Language Groups

Abstract

This article introduces the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI; Bodenmann, 2008 ) and aims (1) to investigate the reliability and aspects of the validity of the Italian and French versions of the DCI, and (2) to replicate its factor structure and reliabilities using a new Swiss German sample. Based on 216 German-, 378 Italian-, and 198 French-speaking participants, the factor structure of the original German inventory was able to be replicated by using principal components analysis in all three groups after excluding two items in the Italian and French versions. The latter were shown to be as reliable as the German version with the exception of the low reliabilities of negative dyadic coping in the French group. Confirmatory factor analyses provided additional support for delegated dyadic coping and evaluation of dyadic coping. Intercorrelations among scales were similar across all three languages groups with a few exceptions. Previous findings could be replicated in all three groups, showing that aspects of dyadic coping were more strongly related to marital quality than to dyadic communication. The use of the dyadic coping scales in the actor-partner interdependence model, the common fate model, and the mutual influence model is discussed.

Common dyadic coping is indirectly related to dietary and exercise adherence via patient and partner diabetes efficacy.

“…Cronbach’s alpha reliability for patients was α = .83 and α = .89 for spouses. The psychometric properties of the DCI have been demonstrated in three language groups, with the underlying factor structure replicated through confirmatory factor analysis and evidence of construct validity appearing through the comparison of the DCI with measures of marital quality (from r = .51 to r = .67 for common dyadic coping with marital quality) and couple communication (from r = −.21 to r = −.41 for common dyadic coping with demand-withdraw communication; Ledermann et al, 2010). Correlations between common dyadic coping and relationship satisfaction in the current study are similar in magnitude ( r = .66 for patients and r = .71 for spouses).…”

Immigration Stress and Relationship Satisfaction in Latino Couples: The Role of Dyadic Coping

“…All items are rated on a five-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 = very rarely to 5 = very often. The DCI has been used extensively in various studies (for a review see Bodenmann, 2008) and the convergent and factorial structure of its subscales have been confirmed in Swiss, German, French, Italian, and Latino population (Bodenmann, 2008;Donato et al, 2009;Falconier, Nussbeck, & Bodenmann, 2013;Ledermann et al, 2010). In the Supportive Dyadic Coping subscale, respondents are asked to rate their partner's tendency to provide both problem-focused (e.g., analyzing the situation) and emotion-focused (e.g., showing empathy, listening) support.…”

Testing a Preliminary Live with Love Conceptual Framework for cancer couple dyads: A mixed-methods study

“…The DCI assesses dyadic coping as perceived by (i) each partner about their own coping, (ii) each partner's perception of the other's coping, and (iii) each partner's view of how they cope as a couple (Gmelch et al, 2008;Bodenmann, 2008). Based on assessments of the instrument in three different languages, involving 216 German-speaking, 378 Italian-speaking, and 198 French-speaking participants, the DCI ranged in reliability from .50 to .92 (Ledermann et al, 2010). The translation of the DCI into Chinese was done by the first author.…”