Psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale

AbstractThe Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) is a self-report instrument measuring marital satisfaction, which has been widely used in different cultures. In Spain, there are to date no studies analysing the psychometric properties of the scale in functional and dysfunctional couples, nor performing independent factor analysis of men and women's data. The objective of this study is to determine some psychometric properties of a Spanish DAS version on a sample of 915 participants: 403 who requested couple therapy, and 512 who did not request therapy. Results support the reliability of the instrument for both subsamples. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a four-factor internal structure that corresponds to the one proposed by the author of the original scale. Furthermore, the Spanish DAS has high discriminant power between both subsamples, and presents as a valid and reliable instrument to measure marital quality in Spanish couples who request couple therapy and those who do not request it.ResumenLa Escala de Ajuste Diádico (EAD) es una escala de autoinforme de satisfacción conyugal que ha sido ampliamente utilizada en distintas culturas. En España no existen en la actualidad estudios que analicen las propiedades psicométricas de la escala en parejas con y sin malestar ni que realicen análisis factoriales independientes de los datos de hombres y mujeres. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar algunas propiedades psicométricas de una versión española de la EAD en una muestra de 915 participantes: 403 que buscaban terapia de pareja y 512 que no requerían terapia. Los resultados respaldan la fiabilidad del instrumento para ambas submuestras. El análisis factorial confirmatorio mostró una estructura interna de cuatro factores que se corresponde con la propuesta por el autor de la escala original. Además, la versión española de la EAD ofrece una alta capacidad discriminante entre ambos subgrupos, constituyendo un instrumento válido y fiable para medir la satisfacción conyugal en parejas españolas que buscan terapia y en aquellas que no la requieren

CT2A cell viability modulated by electromagnetic fields at extremely low frequency under no thermal effects

The effects produced by electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on human beings at extremely low frequencies (ELFs) have being investigated in the past years, across in vitro studies, using different cell lines. Nevertheless, the effects produced on cells are not clarified, and the cellular mechanisms and cell-signaling processes involved are still unknown. This situation has resulted in a division among the scientific community about the adequacy of the recommended level of exposure. In this sense, we consider that it is necessary to develop long-term exposure studies and check if the recommended levels of EMFs are under thermal effects. Hence, we exposed CT2A cells to different EMFs at different ELFs at short and long times. Our results showed frequency dependence in CT2A exposed during 24 h to a small EMF of 30 ?T equal to those originated by the Earth and frequency dependence after the exposure during seven days to an EMF of 100 µT at different ELFs. Particularly, our results showed a remarkable cell viability decrease of CT2A cells exposed to EMFs of 30 Hz. Nevertheless, after analyzing the thermal effects in terms of HSP90 expression, we did not find thermal damages related to the differences in cell viability, so other crucial cellular mechanism should be involved

Differences in family structure and functioning between families with disordered and healthy children

INTRODUCTION During the last ten years, Children and Adolescent psychiatry has experienced a growth in the rates of children consulting for mental disorders. Alteration in family functioning and structure may cause a negative impact in children and adolescent psychological adjustment, being this fact related to the increase in the number of consultations. OBJECTIVES To compare family functioning and structure between families with and without a child affected with a psychopathological disorder. METHOD Parents of children attending for the first time to the Children and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit at the Department of Psychiatry at the University Hospital of Navarra or at the General Paediatrics Department of the same institution were invited to fill in a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Family Assessment Device (FAD), and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES III). Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS (v. 15.0) program. RESULTS We analysed a sample of 124 married couples with a child affected with a psychopathological disorder, and 46 marriages without any psychologically disordered child. Parents of disordered children had been married for a mean of approximately 15 years (+5.8) and those of healthy children had been married for a mean of approximately 9 years (+5.4). Statistically meaningful differences were found between fathers from both groups in the “global functioning” subscale measured by the FAD. In the case of mothers, the “roles” and “global functioning” FAD subscales revealed statistically meaningful differences (p<0.05) between both groups. Finally, the FACES III “cohesion” subscale displayed statistically meaningful differences (p<0.05) also between mothers from both groups. CONCLUSIONS Fathers of disordered children refer a worse global functioning in their families. Mothers of disordered children refer greater difficulty to allocate roles, and an alteration in emotional links between family members

Does the number of children take a role in marital dysfunction?

INTRODUCTION The number of separations and divorces has dramatically increased in Europe in the last few years. In Spain, according to the last report of the Institute for Family Policies entitled “Evolution on the Family in Europe 2009”, the rate represents a 268% increase. Furthermore, birth rates have also decreased, with only 4% of families having three or more children. OBJECTIVES To analyse differences in marital and family functioning depending on the number of children. METHOD We studied a sample of 168 married couples who on their own initiative turned to the Diagnosis and Family Therapy Unit (UDITEF) at the University of Navarra Hospital (Spain) referring marital dysfunction. Sociodemographic data were gathered from all couples. They were asked to fill in the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) in order to assess marital dynamics and the Family Assessment Device (FAD) to assess family functioning. Statistic analysis was done with the SPSS (v. 15.0) program. RESULTS Out of the couples studied (N=168), 78 had three or more children, and 90 had less than three. Couples in large families had been married for a mean of 19.6+10.6 years, and nearly had four children (3.94+1.2) of ages in a range of 10 to 17 years. Couples in families with less than three children had been married for a mean of 13.7+10.3 and had a mean of one child (1.23+0.28) within an age range of 9 to 12 years. Statistic analysis of marital dynamics as measured with the DAS shows that there are statistically meaningful differences in the “Affective expression” subscale (p<0.05) both in husbands and wives. Concerning family functioning as measured by the FAD, we can find statistically meaningful differences in the subscale “communication” (p<0.05) measured in wives. CONCLUSIONS In our sample, marital dysfunction does not seem to be influenced by the number of children in the family. However, further research is necessary to study other variables that could also take a role, in order to get more accurate data

Study of marital communication in marriages with infidelity

INTRODUCTION Infidelity has a significant psychological impact on marriages and families. Marriages with an infidelity experience show a great number of premarital communication problems such as low rates of positive interaction and high rates of invalidation and negative interaction (1). OBJECTIVES To analyse communicative resources of spouses belonging to marriages with at least one unfaithfulness episode. To compare marital communication depending on the sex of the unfaithful spouse. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analized a sample of married couples in which at least one of the partners had had an extramarital relationship and who had turned to the Diagnosis and Family Therapy Unit (UDITEF) during the last five years presenting marital dysfunction related to an extramarital episode. Marital communication was studied through the observational method Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System (RMICS), analysing a 15-minute conversation between partners, which was coded by two reliable independent raters. RESULTS We analysed a sample of 39 married couples. No statistically meaningful differences were found with the RMICS between unfaithful husbands and faithful wives. However, when the wife was the unfaithful partner, we observed statistically meaningful differences in communication in the codes Hostility (p<0.05) and Problem Discussion (p<0.01) as compared to their faithful husbands. Furthermore, statistically meaningful differences were found in the use of the code Humor (p<0.01) when comparing unfaithful husbands to unfaithful wives. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (v.15) program. CONCLUSIONS The data obtained in our study show that marital and family communication varies depending on the sex of the unfaithful partner, mainly in the way they discuss and cope with problems, although more studies should be carried out with larger samples in order to confirm the results. We also appreciate that marriages in which the husband has been unfaithful, have a better marital communication than do marriages with an unfaithful woman. Finally, unfaithful women use a communication pattern more hostile than their husbands. BIBLIOGRAFÍA (1) Allen, E.S. The multidimensional and development nature of infidelity: Practical applications. Journal of clinical psychology, 2005; 61; 11; 1371-1400. (2) Heyman E. R. & Vivian, D. Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System. Manual. Ver. 1.7, July, 2000. State University of New York at Stony Brook

Does the number of children take a role in marital dysfunction?

INTRODUCTION The number of separations and divorces has dramatically increased in Europe in the last few years. In Spain, according to the last report of the Institute for Family Policies entitled “Evolution on the Family in Europe 2009”, the rate represents a 268% increase. Furthermore, birth rates have also decreased, with only 4% of families having three or more children. OBJECTIVES To analyse differences in marital and family functioning depending on the number of children. METHOD We studied a sample of 168 married couples who on their own initiative turned to the Diagnosis and Family Therapy Unit (UDITEF) at the University of Navarra Hospital (Spain) referring marital dysfunction. Sociodemographic data were gathered from all couples. They were asked to fill in the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) in order to assess marital dynamics and the Family Assessment Device (FAD) to assess family functioning. Statistic analysis was done with the SPSS (v. 15.0) program. RESULTS Out of the couples studied (N=168), 78 had three or more children, and 90 had less than three. Couples in large families had been married for a mean of 19.6+10.6 years, and nearly had four children (3.94+1.2) of ages in a range of 10 to 17 years. Couples in families with less than three children had been married for a mean of 13.7+10.3 and had a mean of one child (1.23+0.28) within an age range of 9 to 12 years. Statistic analysis of marital dynamics as measured with the DAS shows that there are statistically meaningful differences in the “Affective expression” subscale (p<0.05) both in husbands and wives. Concerning family functioning as measured by the FAD, we can find statistically meaningful differences in the subscale “communication” (p<0.05) measured in wives. CONCLUSIONS In our sample, marital dysfunction does not seem to be influenced by the number of children in the family. However, further research is necessary to study other variables that could also take a role, in order to get more accurate data

Study of marital communication in marriages with infidelity

INTRODUCTION Infidelity has a significant psychological impact on marriages and families. Marriages with an infidelity experience show a great number of premarital communication problems such as low rates of positive interaction and high rates of invalidation and negative interaction (1). OBJECTIVES To analyse communicative resources of spouses belonging to marriages with at least one unfaithfulness episode. To compare marital communication depending on the sex of the unfaithful spouse. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analized a sample of married couples in which at least one of the partners had had an extramarital relationship and who had turned to the Diagnosis and Family Therapy Unit (UDITEF) during the last five years presenting marital dysfunction related to an extramarital episode. Marital communication was studied through the observational method Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System (RMICS), analysing a 15-minute conversation between partners, which was coded by two reliable independent raters. RESULTS We analysed a sample of 39 married couples. No statistically meaningful differences were found with the RMICS between unfaithful husbands and faithful wives. However, when the wife was the unfaithful partner, we observed statistically meaningful differences in communication in the codes Hostility (p<0.05) and Problem Discussion (p<0.01) as compared to their faithful husbands. Furthermore, statistically meaningful differences were found in the use of the code Humor (p<0.01) when comparing unfaithful husbands to unfaithful wives. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (v.15) program. CONCLUSIONS The data obtained in our study show that marital and family communication varies depending on the sex of the unfaithful partner, mainly in the way they discuss and cope with problems, although more studies should be carried out with larger samples in order to confirm the results. We also appreciate that marriages in which the husband has been unfaithful, have a better marital communication than do marriages with an unfaithful woman. Finally, unfaithful women use a communication pattern more hostile than their husbands. BIBLIOGRAFÍA (1) Allen, E.S. The multidimensional and development nature of infidelity: Practical applications. Journal of clinical psychology, 2005; 61; 11; 1371-1400. (2) Heyman E. R. & Vivian, D. Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System. Manual. Ver. 1.7, July, 2000. State University of New York at Stony Brook