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

A structural equation model of achievement emotions, coping strategies and engagement-burnout in undergraduate students: a possible underlying mechanism in facets of perfectionism

Achievement emotions that the university student experiences in the learning process can be significant in facilitating or interfering with learning. The present research looked for linear and predictive relations between university students¿ achievement emotions, coping strategies, and engagement-burnout, in three dierent learning situations (classroom, study time, and testing). Hypotheses were identified for a possible model that would analyze the two facets of perfectionism based on these relations. In the case of perfectionistic strivings, the test hypothesis was that positive emotions would predispose the use of problem-focused coping strategies and an emotional state of engagement; in the case of perfectionistic concerns, however, negative emotions would predispose the use of emotion-focused strategies and a state of burnout. A total of 654 university students participated in the study, using an online tool to complete validated questionnaires on the three study variables. All students provided informed consent and corresponding permissions. Given the ex-post facto linear design, the predictions could be verified for each situation by means of logistic regression analyses and Structural Equations Models (SEM). Empirical results lent support, in varying degree, to the proposed theoretical relations. The testing situation was of particular interest. We discuss implications for perfectionism research and for the practice of prevention, education and health care in the university setting

A pilot study on the Spanish version of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS‐SR) with carers of people with Parkinson's disease

Aim: To report the cross-cultural adaptation and pilot study of the ongoing validation of the Spanish version of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale with carers of people with Parkinson's disease. Design: Cross-cultural adaptation and pilot study with a cross-sectional validation design of the Spanish version of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale - Carers. Methods: Twenty-one carers of people with Parkinson's disease from a Primary Care practice in Spain were recruited and completed the PAIS-Carers, the SF-36 Health Survey, the Brief COPE Inventory and an assessment form. SPSS 23.0 was used to determine viability/acceptability and preliminary aspects of internal consistency of the instrument. Results: Five of the seven domains presented floor effect (71.42%), and only one presented ceiling effect (14.28%). The internal consistency of the scale and domains showed acceptable values (over 0.7). The content validity of the Spanish version seemed satisfactory with positive comments in general from participants

Implementation of a multidisciplinary psychoeducational intervention for Parkinson's disease patients and carers in the community: study protocol

Background: Parkinson’s disease progressively limits patients at different levels and as a result family members play a key role in their care. However, studies show lack of an integrative approach in Primary Care to respond to the difficulties and psychosocial changes experienced by them. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary psychoeducational intervention focusing on improving coping skills, the psychosocial adjustment to Parkinson’s disease and the quality of life in patients and family carers in a Primary Care setting. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with control group and mixed methods was designed to evaluate a multidisciplinary psychoeducational intervention. Based on the study power calculations, 100 people with Parkinson’s disease and 100 family carers will be recruited and assigned to two groups. The intervention group will receive the ReNACE psychoeducational intervention. The control group will be given a general educational programme. The study will be carried out in six community-based health centres. The results obtained from the two groups will be collected for evaluation at three time points: at baseline, immediately after the intervention and at 6 months post-intervention. The results will be measured with these instruments: the Quality of Life Scale PDQ39 for patients and the Scale of Quality of Life of Care-givers SQLC for family carers, and for all participants the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness scale and the Brief COPE Inventory. Focus groups will be organised with some patients and family carers who will have received the ReNACE psychoeducational intervention and also with the healthcare professionals involved in its development. Discussion: An important gap exists in the knowledge and application of interventions with a psychosocial approach for people with PD and family carers as a whole. This study will promote this comprehensive approach in Primary Care, which will clearly contribute in the existing knowledge and could reduce the burden of PD for patients and family carers, and also in other long-term conditions

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

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

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