Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test Research Articles

Breast Cancer in a Wife

Husbands of patients with breast cancer (HBCs) experience as much as or even more distress than patients. Husbands' coping strategies may predict their level of distress. The present study examined the coping strategies of HBCs compared with husbands of women without cancer (HWCs) and the relationship between coping and various psychosocial variables. Psychosocial and physical health correlates of coping in both groups were assessed. Husbands of women with breast cancer (n=83) and without breast cancer (n=79) completed self-report questionnaires including the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the Subjective Stress Scale, the Satisfaction With Life Scale, and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test, in addition to measures of burden. The HBC and HWC groups were significantly different for 6 of the 8 coping styles assessed, with HBC using these strategies less than HWCs. Among HBCs, higher use of distancing, accepting responsibility, and escape-avoidance was associated with higher stress and symptoms of depression, and distancing and accepting responsibility were associated with lower marital satisfaction. Results suggest that coping strategies may be different when dealing with cancer in a wife than at other times and that coping relates to well-being and is therefore worthy of focus. Simple assessments of primary coping strategies may help clinicians identify HBCs in need of interventions. Husbands of women with breast cancer can be given problems to solve that will help them cope and help the patient and clinic staff as well. Interventions aimed at the couple, and not exclusively the HBC, may be particularly helpful.

The reliability of relationship satisfaction: A reliability generalization meta-analysis.

We conducted a reliability-generalization meta-analysis of 7 of the most frequently used measures of relationship satisfaction: the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (LWMAT), the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMS), the Quality of Marriage Index, the Relationship Assessment Scale, the Marital Opinion Questionnaire, Karney and Bradbury's (1997) semantic differential scale, and the Couples Satisfaction Index. Six hundred thirty-nine reliability coefficients from 398 articles and 636,806 individuals provided internal consistency reliability estimates for this meta-analysis. We present the average score reliabilities for each measure, characterize the variance in score reliabilities across studies, and consider sample and study characteristics that are predictive of score reliability. Overall, the KMS and the LWMAT appear to be the strongest and weakest measures, respectively, from a reliability perspective. We discuss the importance of considering reliability invariance when making cross-group comparisons and provide recommendations for researchers when electing a measure of relationship satisfaction.

Validation of the Sexual Interest and Desire Inventory-Female in Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

The Sexual Interest and Desire Inventory-Female (SIDI-F) is a 13-item scale developed as a clinician-administered assessment tool to measure hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) severity in women. To estimate the reliability and validity of the SIDI-F as a measure of HSDD severity. Women, aged 18-65 years, with primary HSDD, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD), or no Female Sexual Dysfunction (no FSD) participated in two nontreatment studies (in North America and Europe). On days 0 and 28, subjects were assessed using the SIDI-F, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire-Female (CSFQ-F), Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (MAT) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS). Discriminant validity, convergent validity, divergent validity, test-retest validity, and internal consistency of the SIDI-F. The North American study enrolled women with HSDD (N = 113), FSAD (N = 49) and no FSD (N = 61); the European study enrolled women with HSDD (N = 130) and no FSD (N = 124). In both studies, mean SIDI-F total score for women with HSDD was lower than for those with no FSD (P < 0.001, for all) demonstrating discriminant validity. Further, mean SIDI-F total score for women with HSDD was lower than for those with FSAD in the North American study (P < 0.001). Convergent validity with the FSFI and CSFQ-F and divergent validity with MAT were demonstrated. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were high. The SIDI-F is a valid and reliable measure of HSDD severity in women.

The Assessment of Marital Adjustment with Muslim Populations: A Reliability Study of the Locke–Wallace Marital Adjustment Test

The Muslim population is growing rapidly throughout the world and a sizable population of 6–8 million Muslims is estimated in North America alone. This population deals with a vast array of issues, including marital adjustment. Nevertheless, the marriage and family literature lacks the research needed to facilitate therapeutic treatment with Muslim couples adequately. Marital adjustment assessments that are commonly utilized have been tested on predominantly Anglo-American or Caucasian couples. The present study is a preliminary investigation of the Locke–Wallace marital adjustment test’s (LWMAT) reliability when administered to married, Muslim-American people.

Compare the state of the social support system and the function of marital adjustment between Han and Vighur nationality anxiety patients

Objective To compare the social support state and the function of marital adjustment of anxiety disorder patients between Han and Vighur nationality,and in order to recognize the characters of anxiety disorder in crossing-cuhure background.Methods Using the SSRS(Social support rating scale)and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test to assess all of the 791 anxiety patients in the test groups(include Han and Vighur nationality)and the 800 normal persons in the control groups(include Han and Vighur nationality).The patients calne from the outpatient and inpatient of the psychological department of the first affiliated hospital of the Xinjang Medical University.Results There were not significant difference in the scores of SSRS between Han and Vighur nationality in the test group(P＞0.05).Compared to Han and Vighur nationality patients,there was not significant difference of the score in The Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test(P＞0.05).In the control groups the Vighur group showed significantly higher in the scores of the Subject Support Factor and Using Support Factor of SSRS (23.90±5.25 vs22.10±5.31,8.46 ±3.21 vs 7.36±2.39,u=3.592,7.632,P＜0.01),but the scores of the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test were significantly lower than the Han group(79.39±22.13 vs 86.16±22.45,u=5.043,P＜0.01).Conclusion Both Han and Vighur anxiety disorder patients couldn't get good social support and had poor marital adjusted function.In normal persons the Vighur people are good at using the social support system,but the Han people are good at the marital adjustment function. Key words: Social support; Marital adjustment; Anxiety disorder; Han nationality; Vighur nationality

Male Partner Abusers' Perceptions of Family Relationship Functioning: A Comparison of Clinically Derived Abuser Types

ABSTRACT Research has explored the differences between types of male partner abusers on various variables and yet little research has examined family experiences, such as family of origin structure and relationship patterns. The present study compared 4 male partner abuser types derived from profile interpretation of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) and a group of nonintimately violent men on family of origin and current partner relationship functioning using two family scales from the MMPI-2, the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test, and the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III. Results indicated that male partner abusers with more severe psychopathology (i.e., borderline and antisocial) reported greater relationship distress, discord, conflict, and emotional disengagement than those men with less psychopathology (i.e., nonpathological). Clinical implications are discussed.

Impact of infertility on quality of life, marital adjustment, and sexual function

Objectives To evaluate the hypothesis that infertility may result in a decrease in quality of life and an increase in marital discord and sexual dysfunction. The burden of infertility is physical, psychological, emotional, and financial. Methods Couples seeking treatment for infertility were asked to complete standardized validated questionnaires assessing quality of life (Quality of Well-Being Scale-Self Administered, version 1.04), marital adjustment (Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test), and sexual function (Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women and International Index of Erectile Function for men). Couples seeking elective sterilization served as the control subjects. Results Eighteen infertile couples and 12 couples seeking elective sterilization participated in the study. The mean age, years together, and household income were comparable. Infertile couples had made a mean of 14.5 office visits for infertility, and 83% of couples reported feeling societal pressures to conceive. The Marital Adjustment Test scores for the women of the infertile couples were significantly lower than the scores of the controls ( P = 0.01); however no difference was noted in the men. A trend toward lower quality-of-life scores was noted in women ( P = 0.09) but not in the men of infertile couples. No statistically significant impact on sexual functioning in women was noted; however, the men in the infertile couples had lower total International Index of Erectile Function scores ( P = 0.05) and intercourse satisfaction scores ( P = 0.03). Conclusions Women in infertile couples reported poor marital adjustment and quality of life compared with controls. Men may experience less intercourse satisfaction, perhaps because of the psychological pressure to try to conceive or because of the forced timing of intercourse around the woman's ovulatory cycle.

Marital Adjustment and Irrational Beliefs

The present study was designed to determine which aspects of Ellis' irrational beliefs as well as emotional traits (anxiety, curiosity, anger) differentiate couples attending marriage counseling from couples couple not attending marriage counseling as well as levels of marital satisfaction in couples as measured by the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. Participants were 61 married couples, 18 of whom were attending marriage counseling and 43 who were not attending marriage counseling. Each partner completed a number of self-report questionnaires containing items measuring irrational /rational beliefs, anger, anxiety and curiosity, and communication skills. Correlational and multiple regression analyses indicate support for Albert Ellis' proposition concerning the importance of individual partner's emotional traits and accompanying irrational beliefs in marital adjustment and dissatisfaction. Self-downing and need for comfort were the dimensions of irrational thinking most strongly related to marital dysfunction. Anger, anxiety but neither curiosity nor communication skills distinguished individuals experiencing or not experiencing marital problems. Implications for relationship counseling are briefly discussed.

Effects of Videotaped Feedback and Modeling on Verbalization Skills

This single-case study utilized videotaped feedback and modeling to improve the communications skills of a male, age 59, who was treated in the outpatient mental health clinic of a Veterans Medical Center. The client improved his ability to speak concisely over the course of five sessions followed by practice at home. The elapsed amount of time required to answer questions was reduced and scaled ratings completed by the client, spouse, and clinician improved. Pretest/post-test scores on the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test indicated improved marital relations for both the client and his wife and the client reported improved relationships at work.

Brief Report. Applicability of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale for Measurement of Marital Quality with Turkish Couples

Summary: The study investigates the reliability and validity of the Turkish Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). Scores of the DAS were studied for its reliability and validity. The sample consisted of 264 married individuals. The α coefficient for the DAS was .92. Computed split-half reliability coefficient was .86. The DAS correlated .82 with the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. The original factor structure of the DAS was replicated in the present study. In general, the data indicated that the DAS provides a reliable and valid measure of marital adjustment for a Turkish sample.

The Impact of Doctoral Study on Marital Satisfaction

The purpose of the study was to determine whether marital relationships of doctoral students were affected while they were enrolled in graduate programs. The stratified sample consisted of 54 participants who completed the Demographics and Structured Questionnaire, Locke‐Wallace Marital Adjustment Test, and Index of Marital Satisfaction. There were no significant differences among the marital satisfaction levels of graduate students at different stages in their program. Significant differences were found in relationship to several of the research questions, however. Specifically, a significant difference was found in the marital satisfaction of couples involved in marital therapy. Spouses who also were students scored significantly higher in marital satisfaction than spouses who were not students. Areas of discord that affected marital satisfaction during graduate school were philosophy of life, demonstration of affection, and sexual relations.

Positive Adjustment in Parents Rearing Children with Down Syndrome

The current research investigated adjustment in mothers and fathers rearing children with Down syndrome. Families who had a Down syndrome child by birth were compared with families who had knowingly adopted a child with Down syndrome and, therefore, were likely to be well-adjusted. With this design, child characteristics were controlled to assess more accurately the impact of a birth of a child with developmental disabilities on family adjustment. For this study, both mothers and fathers completed the Family Strengths Inventory, the Holroyd QRS, and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. Additionally, mothers only (n = 105) completed the Beck Depression Inventory and the Nelson Index of Parental Satisfaction with Child. Results demonstrated that birth mothers and fathers were functioning quite similarly to adoptive mothers and fathers on the outcome variables. Only one significant difference at p < .01 was found and the adoptive/birth factor accounted for only 8% of its variance. Overall, birth as well as adoptive, families appeared to be adjusting well to the challenges of rearing a child with Down syndrome.

Stress and Coping Strategies in Spouses of Depressed Patients

The relationships between the coping strategies used by spouses of clinically depressed patients and spouses' anxiety, depression, and marital maladjustment were investigated. Fifty spouses of clinically depressed patients completed a biographical questionnaire, the Coping Strategy Indicator (J. H. Amirkhan, 1990, 1994), the Beck Depression Inventory (A. T. Beck, 1967; A. T. Beck, C. H. Ward, M. Mendelson, J. Mock, & J. Erbaugh, 1961), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (C. D. Spielberger, R. E. Lushene, B. A. Vagg, & E. Jacobs, 1983), and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (H. J. Locke & K. M. Wallace, 1959, 1987). Anxiety was highly prevalent in the spouses; more than half were depressed, and half showed marital maladjustment. Significant positive correlations were found between an avoidant coping strategy and anxiety as well as depression, and a significant negative correlation was found between an avoidant coping strategy and marital adjustment. These findings indicate the ineffectiveness of an avoidant coping strategy for spouses of clinically depressed patients.

Reconsideration of the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test: is it still relevant for the 1990s?

The Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test has been in use for over thirty years despite the development of other scales. The role of the test is discussed in terms of theoretical and practical concerns in the measurement of marital satisfaction. Major criticisms are briefly reviewed and empirical questions are identified. These questions are addressed using archival data on four samples totalling 281 couples. The test possesses adequate reliability and good criterion-related validity. A single factor was identified for both men and women. Ten items discriminated in all analyses. Minor changes in the scoring procedure were suggested for two items in response to some criticisms. These changes did not affect the psychometric properties. The alternative scoring system proposed by Hunt was also evaluated and a cut-score was identified. Continued use of the test is justified in general contexts where the broadly based definition of adjustment is appropriate. More comprehensive measures of adjustment and satisfaction and simpler measures of marital quality still leave a role for this 15-item rapid assessment measure of marital adjustment.

Enhancing Marital Intimacy Through Psychoeducation: The PAIRS Program

This study explores the enhancement and maintenance of intimacy, a critical element in the development of healthy relationships, through a psychoeducational method-the Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills (PAIRS) program. Using a pretest, posttest, andfollow-up design, married program participants (N = 137) volunteered to be evaluated pre-PAIRS, post-PAIRS, and 6 to 8 months after PAIRS. Participants tended to be more distressed and less intimate than the general population. The design included operational measures of intimacy (Waring Intimacy Questionnaire) and marital adjustment (Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test) as well as open-ended questionnaires that revealed clients'perceptions of intimacy and what enhances and maintains intimacy; gender differences were also explored. The findings in this study suggest a multifaceted view of intimacy. For most participants (76%), significant gains in intimacy were sustained in the follow-up period. Gender differences in intimacy had been reduced at follow-up. Intimacy appears to be a skill that can be learned.

The Quest for a Perfect Spouse: Spousal Ratings and Marital Satisfaction

The present paper examined the relationship between spousal ratings of personality and self-reports of marital satisfaction. 107 heterosexual couples were administered the NEO-Personality Inventory-Revised to appraise the five domains of personality and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test to evaluate marital satisfaction. The analysis indicated scores for all the personality domains were significant predictors of scores on marital satisfaction for both men and women, with Agreeableness being the most robust.

Diabetes, psychological function and male sexuality

The aim of the study was to assess psychological contributors or correlates of sexual dysfunction in diabetic men. The study was conducted on 40 diabetic men and 40 age-matched healthy volunteers. The subjects underwent a psychosexual interview with their sexual partners and had a comprehensive medical evaluation to rule out the confounding effects of other illnesses or medications. Psychiatric, psychological and marital information was obtained with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS-L), the SCL-90-R, the Derogatis Sexual Function Inventory, the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment test and the Dyadic Adjustment Inventory. Compared to controls, diabetic patients had significantly lower levels of erotic drive, sexual arousal, enjoyment and satisfaction. Problems in these areas coexisted with alterations in sexual attitudes and body image but were not related to group differences in marital adjustment as reported separately by the patients and their partners. There was no evidence that psychological distress or psychiatric disorders are associated with diabetes or with its effects on sexual function.

An Assessment of Membership Benefits in the Al-Anon Program

Although widely utilized as a source of treatment for family members of alcoholics, the Al-Anon program has not been studied regarding its effectiveness. This study attempted to empirically assess presumed benefits reported by 77 members of Al-Anon programs in Southern Minnesota. To test hypotheses regarding levels of self-esteem and marital adjustment, correlational statistics were used to compare length of membership to results from the Tennessee Self-concept Scale and Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. Although significant relationships were found between both self-esteem and marital adjustment regarding increased length of membership, confounds and methodological difficulties reduced the impact of these findings.

Sexual satisfaction in healthy aging men.

Systematic information on the contributing factors to sexual satisfaction in healthy older men is lacking. The central aim of the study was to explore the predictive significance of psychological, marital, and behavioral variables and their interaction on the satisfaction of healthy married volunteers aged 45 to 74. All subjects had an extensive psychosexual and medical evaluation and completed a battery of psychological tests which included the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI), the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (L-W) and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). Step-wise regression analysis demonstrated that the subjects' perception of erectile difficulties, sexual information, affect, and marital adjustment had a differential correlation pattern with three measures of sexual satisfaction explaining a substantial amount of the variance. There is a need to move beyond an exclusive focus on performance to the determinants of sexual enjoyment and satisfaction in the later years.

The Development and Predictive Validity of a New Premarital Assessment Instrument: The Preparation for Marriage Questionnaire

The purpose of this study was to describe the development of a comprehensive (multi-item/multi-concept) premarital assessment instrument, the PREParation for Marriage Questionnaire, or PREP-M (Holman, Busby, & Larson, 1989) and to test some of the psychometric properties of the The test of PREP-M's psychometric properties included an evaluation of internal consistency reliability and a test of the predictive validity of PREP-M using a sample of 103 couples who completed the questionnaire before marriage and then completed a survey of marital status and satisfaction about one year after marriage. RATIONALE FOR A NEW INSTRUMENT In presenting his ideas on what would constitute an effective premarital program, Olson (1983) states, Ideally, it would be best if a couple could first take some type of premarital inventory and receive feedback on that instrument. With any preventive approach, an assessment instrument is useful for critically examining relationships and providing information about the couple's strengths and potential problem areas. While there are several comprehensive premarital assessment instruments available, none adequately meet the needs of the family life educator or premarital counselor who teaches students in a classroom setting or conducts group premarital counseling. Most of the existing instruments are narrow in their focus and designed only for engaged couples (e.g., Marital Role Expectation Inventory; Dunn, 1979), exclusively or primarily for use in a counseling setting with one couple at a time (e.g., PREPARE; Olson, Fournier, & Druckman, 1986; California Marriage Readiness Evaluation; Manson, 1965; Premarital Counseling Inventory; Stuart, Jacobson, & Guire, 1985), or by pastoral counselors (e.g., Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study (FOCCUS); Markey, Micheletto, & Becker, 1985), and exclusively or primarily to assess interpersonal couple characteristics (e.g., PREPARE; Olson, et al., 1986). Many instruments measure one or two specific areas of relationships, such as sexual attitudes (e.g., Sexual Attitudes Scale; Hendrick & Hendrick, 1987) or communication (e.g., Marital Communication Inventory; Bienvenu, 1970), but they are frequently designed for married couples (e.g., Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test; Locke & Wallace, 1959) or for research (e.g., Dyadic Adjustment Scale; Spanier, 1976) rather than pedagogical purposes. For the high school, college, university, or church classroom setting a premarital instrument was needed that: (a) was designed primarily or exclusively for assessing the premarital relationship; (b) was flexible enough to use not only with engaged couples, but also with non-dating, casually dating, seriously dating, or cohabitating individuals; (c) was comprehensive enough to include an analysis of most of the important theoretically- and empirically-derived premarital predictors of marital satisfaction, including those especially interesting and meaningful to unmarried individuals, family life educators, and premarital counselors; (d) produced a useful, accurate, and easily understood output for users that could be interpreted without the assistance of a counselor; (e) was economical and easy to administer; (f) was psychometrically reliable and valid; (g) was theoretically and empirically grounded; and (h) produced data for research purposes and development purposes. A review of the most popular existing instruments (see above) showed that none of them simultaneously met more than four of these eight objectives. PREP-M was designed to meet all eight objectives. DEVELOPMENT OF PREP-M PREP-M was originally developed in 1980 and was known then as The Marital Inventories (MI) (Yorgason, Burr, & Baker, 1980). The MI was designed primarily for unmarried couples and contained over 350 items measuring each individual's values, role expectations, personality, and couple interaction. …