Research on Couple Assessment and the Marital Satisfaction Inventory

Assessing Couples and Families: A Conceptual Model

We've advocated a comprehensive model for assessing families in which assessment constructs are organized along five domains: (a) cognitive, (b) affective, (c) communication and interpersonal, (d) structural and developmental, and (e) control, sanctions, and related behaviors.

Assessment data across these domains are gathered using multiple assessment strategies, primarily self-report and observational techniques, including both formal (i.e., more structured and psychometrically focused) and informal (i.e., less structured and more clinically focused) procedures.

The assessment techniques across domains are used to evaluate each of five system levels: (a) individuals, (b) dyads, (c) the nuclear family, (d) the extended family and social support system, and (e) community and cultural systems.

References for this work include the following:

Snyder, D. K., Cavell, T. A., Heffer, R. W., & Mangrum, L. F. (1995). Marital and family assessment: A multifaceted, multilevel approach. In R. H. Mikesell, D. D. Lusterman, & S. H. McDaniel (Eds.), Integrating family therapy: Handbook of family psychology and systems theory (pp. 163-182). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Snyder, D. K., Cozzi, J. J., & Mangrum, L. F. (2002). Conceptual issues in assessing couples and families. In H. A. Liddle, D. A. Santisteban, R. F. Levant, & J. H. Bray (Eds.), Family psychology: Science-based interventions (pp. 69-87). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Snyder, D. K., Heyman, R., & Haynes, S. N. (2005). Evidence-based approaches to assessing couple distress. Psychological Assessment, 17, 288-307.

Snyder, D. K., Heyman, R. E., & Haynes, S. N. (2008). Assessing couple distress. In J. Hunsley & E. Mash (Eds.), A guide to assessments that work, (pp. 439-463). New York: Oxford University Press.

Whisman, M. A., Beach, S. R. H., & Snyder, D. K. (2008). Is marital discord taxonic and can taxonic status be assessed reliably? Results from a national, representative sample of married couples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 745-755.

Snyder, D. K., Heyman, R. E., & Haynes, S. N. (2009). Assessing couples. In J. N. Butcher (Ed.), Oxford handbook of personality assessment (pp. 457-484). New York: Oxford University Press.

Snyder, D. K., Whisman, M. A., & Beach, S. R. H. (2009). Screening for marital distress: Epidemiologic and clinical perspectives. In H. Benson & S. Callan (Eds.), What works in relationship education (pp. 108-116). Doha, Qatar: Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development.

Snyder, D. K., Zinbarg, R. E., Heyman, R. E., Haynes, S. N., Gasbarrini, M. F., & Uliaszek, M. (2010). Assessing linkages between interpersonal processes and anxiety disorders. In J. G. Beck (Ed.), Interpersonal processes in the anxiety disorders: Implications for understanding psychopathology and treatment (pp. 37-67). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Abbott, B. V., & Snyder, D. K. (2010). Couple distress. In M. M. Antony & D. H. Barlow (Eds.), Handbook of assessment and treatment planning for psychological disorders (2nd ed.) (pp. 439-476). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Carlson, C., Krumholz, L. S., & Snyder, D. K. (2013). Assessment in marriage and family counseling. In K. F. Geisinger (Ed.), APA handbook of testing and assessment in psychology, Vol. 2 (pp. 569-586). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Beach, S. R. H., Whisman, M. A., Snyder, D. K., & Heyman, R. E. (2013). Practical tools for assessing marital or intimate partner relational problems in clinical practice and public health settings. In S. R. H. Beach, R. E. Heyman, A. S. Slep, & H. M. Foran (Eds.), Family problems and family violence: Reliable assessment and the ICD-11 (pp. 101-110). New York, NY: Springer.

Whisman, M. A., Robustelli, B. L., Beach, S. R. H., Snyder, D. K., & Harper, J. M. (2015). Marital discord and depression in middle-aged and older couples: Is taxon status associated with depression? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 967-973.

Snyder, D. K., Heyman, R. E., Haynes, S. N., Carlson, C., & Balderrama-Durbin, C. (2016). Couple and family assessment. In J. C. Norcross, G. R. VanderBos, & D. K. Freedheim (Eds.), APA handbook of clinical psychology. Vol. 3: Applications and methods (pp. 201-217). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Balderrama-Durbin, C., Fissette, C., & Snyder, D. K. (2016). Best practices in assessment for couple therapy. In E. Lawrence and K. Sullivan (Eds.), Oxford handbook of couple dysfunction (pp. 131-147). New York: Oxford University Press.

The Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (MSI-R)

The Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (MSI-R) is a 150-item inventory designed to identify both the nature and intensity of relationship distress in distinct areas of couples' interaction. The MSI-R includes two validity scales, one global scale, and ten specific scales assessing relationship satisfaction in such areas as affective and problem-solving communication, aggression, leisure time together, finances, the sexual relationship, role orientation, family of origin, and interactions regarding children. The MSI-R is administered to each partner separately and requires approximately 25 minutes to complete. Individuals' responses are scored along the 13 profile scales and are plotted on a standard profile sheet based on gender-specific norms using normalized T-scores.

More than 25 years of research have supported the reliability and construct validity of the MSI-R scales. Coefficients of internal consistency average .82; temporal stability (test-retest) coefficients average .79. Each of the MSI-R scales discriminates between distressed-clinic couples and nondistressed-community couples, with moderate to large effect sizes averaging 1.07. Actuarial tables linking scale scores to descriptors of the relationship provided by clinicians and both partners show the MSI-R scales to relate to a broad range of external criteria consistent with their interpretive intent. A computerized interpretive report for the MSI-R draws on these findings to provide descriptive comparisons across different domains both within and between partners.

The MSI-R has been translated into several languages including Spanish, German, French, Italian, Russian, Arabic, and Korean.

The Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised is available from Western Psychological Services.

Western Psychological Services (Web-Site)
625 Alaska Avenue
Torrance, CA 90503-5124
Phone: 800-648-8857 - FAX: 424-201-6950

 

 

Snyder, D. K. (1997). Manual for the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

Snyder, D. K., & Aikman, G. G. (1999). The Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised. In M. E. Maruish (Ed.), Use of psychological testing for treatment planning and outcomes assessment (pp. 1173-1210) (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Negy, C., & Snyder, D. K. (2000). Reliability of the Spanish translation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised. Psychological Assessment, 12, 425-430.

Means-Christensen, A. J., Snyder, D. K., & Negy, C. (2003). Assessing nontraditional couples: Validity of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised (MSI-R) with gay, lesbian, and cohabiting heterosexual couples. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29, 69-83.

Reig-Ferrer, A., Cepeda-Benito, A., & Snyder, D. K. (2004). Utility of the Spanish translation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised in Spain. Assessment, 11, 17-26.

Negy, C., Snyder, D. K., & Diaz-Loving, R. (2004). A cross-national comparison of Mexican and Mexican American couples using the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (Spanish). Assessment, 11, 49-56.

Snyder, D. K., Cepeda-Benito, A., Abbott, B. V., Gleaves, D. H., Negy, C., Hahlweg, K., & Laurenceau, J. P. (2004). Cross-cultural applications of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (MSI-R). In M. E. Maruish (Ed.), Use of psychological testing for treatment planning and outcomes assessment (3rd ed.) (pp. 603-623). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Klann, N., Hahlweg, K., Limbird, C., & Snyder, D. K. (2006). Manual fur die deutsche Form des Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (MSI-R) von Snyder (1997). Gottingen, Germany: Hogrefe & Huber, Publishers.

Herrington, R. L., Mitchell, A. E., Castellani, A. M., Joseph, J. K., Snyder, D. K., & Gleaves, D. H. (2008). Assessing disharmony and disaffection in intimate relationships: Revision of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory factor scales. Psychological Assessment, 20, 341-350.

Whisman, M. A., Snyder, D. K., & Beach, S. R. H. (2009). Screening for marital and relationship discord. Journal of Family Psychology, 23, 247-254.

Balderrama-Durbin, C., Snyder, D. K., & Semmar, Y. (2011). Assessing Arabic couples: An evidence-based approach. Family Science, 2, 24-33.

Antonelli, P., Dettore, D., Lasagni, I., Snyder, D. K., & Balderrama-Durbin, C. (2014). Gay and lesbian couples in Italy: Comparisons with heterosexual couples. Family Process, 53, 702-716.

Brodard, F., Charvoz, L., Antonietti, J. P., Rossier, J., Bodenmann, G., & Snyder, D. K. (2015). Validation de la version française de l'Inventaire de Satisfaction Conjugale MSI-R [Validation of the French version of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory]. Revue Canadienne des Sciences du Comportement [Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science], 47, 113-122.

Balderrama-Durbin, C., Snyder, D. K., & Balsis, S. (2015). Tailoring assessment of relationship distress using the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Brief form. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 4, 127-135.

Lou, Y., Lin, C., Chen, C., Balderrama-Durbin, C., & Snyder, D. K. (2016). Assessing intimate relationships of Chinese couples using the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised. Assessment, 23, 267-278.

The Spanish version of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised is available from Western Psychological Services, and also from Manual Moderno Publishers (Web-Site).

Tel. México: +52 (55) 5265 1100 Tel. Colombia: +57 (1) 2 11 05 19

 

 

 

 

 

 

The German version of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised is available from Hogrefe Verlag Publishers.

Hogrefe Verlag Publishers (Web-Site)
Merkelstrasse 3,
37085 Gottingen, GERMANY
Phone: +49-551-99950421

The Korean version of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised is available from Korea Psychological Service, a subsidiary of Hakjisa Publishers.

Hakjisa Publishers
6th Floor ,352-29
Seogyo-dong
Mapo-gu
Seoul, 121-837, SOUTH KOREA