The Remarriage Belief Inventory (RMBI) was designed to further elicit knowledge about the increased divorce risk for remarriages and to aid educators in program work with couples preparing for or living in stepfamilies. Utilizing a sample of 546 young adults, this article addresses the discriminant validity of the RMBI\u27s five factors. The RMBI is an empirically validated questionnaire that can be used to assess an individuals\u27 level of endorsement of five beliefs about remarriages and stepfamilies. For educators, the questionnaire is offered for application in prevention and intervention programs to raise awareness of beliefs among members of stepfamilies

Adler-Baeder, Francesca

Higginbotham, Brian J

English

Clemson University: TigerPrints

The Journal of Extension Volume 43 Number 3 Article 20 6-1-2005 Development of the Remarriage Belief Inventory for Researchers and Educators Brian J. Higginbotham Auburn University/Alabama Cooperative Extension, higgibr@auburn.edu Francesca Adler-Baeder Auburn University/Alabama Cooperative Extension, adlerfr@auburn.edu This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Higginbotham, B. J., & Adler-Baeder, F. (2005). Development of the Remarriage Belief Inventory for Researchers and Educators. The Journal of Extension, 43(3), Article 20. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol43/iss3/20 This Ideas at Work is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Journal of Extension by an authorized editor of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact kokeefe@clemson.edu. 	 JOEHOME JOURNAL GUIDELINES ABOUT	JOE CONTACT NATIONAL	JOB	BANKCurrent	Issues Back	IssuesJune	2005	//	Volume	43	//	Number	3	//	Ideas	at	Work	//	3IAW2Development	of	the	Remarriage	Belief	Inventory	forResearchers	and	EducatorsAbstractThe	Remarriage	Belief	Inventory	(RMBI)	was	designed	to	further	elicit	knowledge	about	theincreased	divorce	risk	for	remarriages	and	to	aid	educators	in	program	work	with	couplespreparing	for	or	living	in	stepfamilies.	Utilizing	a	sample	of	546	young	adults,	this	articleaddresses	the	discriminant	validity	of	the	RMBI's	five	factors.	The	RMBI	is	an	empiricallyvalidated	questionnaire	that	can	be	used	to	assess	an	individuals'	level	of	endorsement	of	fivebeliefs	about	remarriages	and	stepfamilies.	For	educators,	the	questionnaire	is	offered	forapplication	in	prevention	and	intervention	programs	to	raise	awareness	of	beliefs	amongmembers	of	stepfamilies.	IntroductionRecent	figures	show	that	approximately	half	of	marriages	annually	are	remarriages	for	one	or	bothpartners,	and	the	majority	(approximately	65%)	of	those	adults	have	children	from	a	previousrelationship,	thus	forming	stepfamilies	(e.g.,	Chadwick	&	Heaton,	1999).	Overall,	estimates	are	thathalf	of	Americans	today	are	or	will	be	in	a	step	relationship	in	their	lifetime	(Larson,	1992).	Thus,there	is	a	great	need	for	educators	to	offer	programs	and	resources	for	stepfamilies,	and	this	needwill	only	increase.There	is	also	a	need	to	expand	the	empirical	knowledge	base	on	processes	in	stepfamilies,because	these	families	are	comparatively	understudied	in	family	science	(Coleman,	Ganong,	&Fine,	2000).	The	Remarriage	Belief	Inventory	(RMBI)	was	designed	for	use	(a)	in	research	of	couplefunctioning	in	stepfamilies	in	order	to	further	elicit	knowledge	about	the	increased	divorce	risk	forremarriages	and	(b)	in	program	work	with	couples	preparing	for	or	living	in	stepfamilies.BackgroundIt	is	estimated	that	between	55	and	60%	of	all	remarriages	will	dissolve	(Glick,	1989)	compared	toapproximately	50%	for	first	marriages	(e.g.,	Waite	&	Gallagher,	2000).	In	the	research	on	firstmarriages	there	is	evidence	to	suggest	that	cognitions	(e.g.,	expectations,	beliefs,	and	attitudes)may	contribute	to	marital	dissolution.	For	example,	the	endorsement	of	particular	expectations,which	if/when	they	are	not	met,	lead	to	frustration,	difficulties	in	adjusting,	and	have	a	negativeimpact	on	marital	satisfaction	and	stability	(e.g.,	Eidelson	&	Epstein,	1982;	Moller	&	Van	Zyl,	1991).There	are	a	number	of	specific	issues,	beliefs,	and	expectations	that	are	unique	to	and	particularlysalient	in	remarriages	(Adler-Baeder	&	Higginbotham,	2004).	These	expectations	appear	to	beinfluenced	by	the	societal	"norm"	of	first	family	functioning,	which	may	be	unrealistic	instepfamilies.	Papernow	(1987)	offers	a	few	examples,	including:Brian	J.	HigginbothamGraduate	Research	Assistanthiggibr@auburn.eduFrancesca	Adler-BaederAssistant	Professor	and	Extension	Specialistadlerfr@auburn.eduAuburn	University/Alabama	Cooperative	ExtensionAuburn,	AlabamaThe	hope	that	the	members	of	the	new	family	will	love	each	other	in	the	way	thatmembers	of	biological	families	do;	the	conviction	that	this	new	spouse	will	be	a	bettermother	or	father	to	these	children	than	the	ex-spouse;	the	wish	that	the	new	family	willheal	the	hurts	of	the	previous	divorce	or	death;	the	fantasy	that	the	couple's	caring	foreach	other	will	be	experienced	between	stepparents	and	their	stepchildren	(p.	632).Just	as	instruments	that	identify	dysfunctional	beliefs	in	first	marriages	have	aided	the	researchersand	practitioners	who	work	with	couples,	a	reliable	and	valid	instrument	that	assesses	remarriagebeliefs	can	aid	practitioners	who	provide	remarriage	and	family	life	education.	Specifically,educators	can	utilize	the	Remarriage	Belief	Inventory	(RMBI)	in	programs	to	assist	family	membersin	identifying	and	discussing	their	individual	expectations/beliefs	about	remarriage	andstepfamilies.	The	study	described	here	is	an	initial	test	of	the	RMBI's	discriminant	validity.MethodItem	Selection	and	RefinementTo	generate	the	items	on	the	RMBI,	a	review	of	the	empirical	and	clinical	literature	on	stepfamily"myths"	and	"beliefs"	was	conducted,	and	a	list	was	compiled.	Five	themes	were	identified,	andseveral	questions	were	developed	that	were	expected	to	tap	into	each	theme	(n	=	43):	(a)	Historyis	unimportant,	(b)	Children	are	the	priority,	(c)	Stepfamilies	are	second-class,	(d)	New	partner	isbetter	than	previous	partner,	and	(e)	Adjustment	comes	quickly.SampleData	for	this	study	came	from	a	sample	of	undergraduates	attending	a	public	university	in	theSouth.	It	was	determined	that	young	adults	were	an	acceptable	sample	for	discriminant	validitytesting	because	it	is	assumed	that	all	adults	have	some	belief	or	notion	about	how	stepfamiliesfunction	based	on	their	experiences	within	our	society.	Five	hundred	forty-six	questionnaires	werereturned.	The	sample	was	predominately	white	(91%)	and	female	(85%).	The	mean	age	was	20.5.ResultsFive	factors	were	confirmed	using	a	principle	component	factor	analysis	with	promax	rotation.Eliminating	items	that	cross-loaded	or	loaded	less	than	.45	resulted	in	24	items	(see	Appendix	forRMBI	items).	The	alpha	reliability	coefficient	was	.78.	Each	factor	(a)	satisfied	Kaiser's	(1958)criterion	of	eigen	values	greater	than	1.00,	(b)	accounted	for	an	appreciable	percentage	of	totalscore	variance,	and	(c)	had	items	that	principally	loaded	on	one	factor.	Factor	loadings	aredisplayed	in	Table	1.Table	1.Factor	Loadings	from	Factor	Analyses	of	Remarriage	Belief	Inventory	Component	1 2 3 4 5RMBI2 .705	 	 	 	RMBI1 .687	 	 	 	RMBI15 .613	 	 	 	RMBI27 .603	 	 	 	RMBI30 .594	 	 	 	RMBI5 -.487	 	 	 	RMBI16	.688	 	 	RMBI31	.630	 	 	RMBI19	.615	 	 	RMBI7	.597	 	 	RMBI9	.558	 	 	RMBI8	.541	 	 	RMBI22	 	.737	 	RMBI11	 	.725	 	RMBI34	 	.582	 	RMBI18	 	.565	 	RMBI43	 	 	.715	RMBI21	 	 	-.627	RMBI3	 	 	.539	RMBI36	 	 	-.533	RMBI28	 	 	 	-.613RMBI32	 	 	 	.568RMBI14	 	 	 	-.566RMBI25	 	 	 	.560Note.	Principal	Component	Analysis.	Promax	rotation	with	KaiserNormalization.Factor	1:	Quick	adjustment--assumed	stepparent	authority	and	attachmentFactor	2:	Partner	is	better	than	previous	partnerFactor	3:	Stepfamilies	are	second-classFactor	4:	Children	are	the	priority	over	the	couple	relationshipFactor	5:	History	is	unimportantConclusionDespite	the	prevalence	of	remarriages	and	stepfamilies,	relatively	few	empirically	validatedresources	are	available	to	Extension	educators	who	provide	remarriage	and	family	life	education.In	research	on	marriages	and	families,	the	role	of	beliefs/expectations	in	promoting	relationshipquality	and	healthy	family	functioning	is	established	(e.g.,	Fincham,	Harold,	&	Gano-Phillips,	2000;Moller	&	Van	Zyl,	1991).	However,	no	measure	exists	to	assess	beliefs	and	expectations	aboutremarriages	and	stepfamilies.The	study	of	the	Remarriage	Belief	Inventory	described	here	has	resulted	in	an	empiricallyvalidated	questionnaire	that	can	be	used	to	assess	an	individuals'	level	of	endorsement	of	fivebeliefs	about	remarriages	and	stepfamilies.	Further	work	is	planned	to	empirically	assess	thefactorial	structure	of	the	RMBI	with	a	remarried	sample	as	well	as	the	predictive	nature	of	each	setof	beliefs	on	remarriage	quality.For	educators,	the	questionnaire	is	offered	for	application	in	prevention	and	intervention	programsto	raise	awareness	of	beliefs	among	members	of	stepfamilies.	Educational	applications	includeusing	the	RMBI	as	a	starter	activity	in	family-life	education	classes	on	remarriages,	as	a	self-assessment,	or	as	a	couple	activity	to	promote	communication	and	consensus	on	expectationsregarding	stepfamily	functioning.	In	both	program	and	research	contexts,	the	RMBI	can	be	utilizedin	efforts	to	strengthening	remarriages	and	stepfamilies	and	to	meet	the	needs	of	this	ever-increasing	population.ReferencesAdler-Baeder,	F.,	&	Higginbotham,	B.	(2004).	Implications	of	remarriage	and	stepfamily	formationfor	marriage	education.	Family	Relations,	53,	448-458.Chadwick,	B.	A.,	&	Heaton,	T.	B.	(1999).	Statistical	handbook	on	the	American	family	(2nd	ed.).Phoenix,	AZ:	Oryx.Coleman,	M.,	Ganong,	L.,	&	Fine,	M.	(2000).	Reinvestigating	remarriage:	Another	decade	ofprogress.	Journal	of	Marriage	and	the	Family,	62,	1288-1307.Eidelson,	R.	J.,	&	Epstein	N.	(1982).	Cognition	and	relationship	maladjustment:	Development	of	ameasure	of	dysfunctional	relationship	beliefs.	Journal	of	Consulting	and	Clinical	Psychology,	50,715-720.Fincham,	F.	D.,	Harold,	G.	T.,	&	Gano-Phillips,	S.	(2000).	The	longitudinal	association	betweenattributions	and	marital	satisfaction:	Direction	of	effects	and	role	of	efficacy	expectations.	Journalof	Family	Psychology,	14(2),	267-285.Glick,	P.	(1989).	Remarried	families,	stepfamilies,	and	stepchildren:	A	brief	demographic	analysis.Family	Relations,	38,	24-27.Kaiser,	H.	F.	(1958).	The	varimax	criterion	for	analytic	rotation	in	factor	analysis.	Psychometrika,24,	187-200.Larson,	J.	(1992).	Understanding	stepfamilies.	American	Demographics,	14,	36-39.Moller,	A.	T.,	&	Van	Zyl,	P.D.	(1991).	Relationship	beliefs,	interpersonal	perception,	and	maritaladjustment.	Journal	of	Clinical	Psychology,	47,	28-33.Papernow,	P.	L.	(1987).	Thickening	the	"middle	ground"	:	Dilemmas	and	vulnerabilities	ofremarried	couples.	Psychotherapy,	24,	630-639.Waite,	L.,	&	Gallagher,	M.	(2000).	The	case	for	marriage.	New	York:	Doubleday.Appendix*Items	on	the	24-item	version	of	the	RMBIRMBI		Please	indicate	the	extent	to	which	you	believe	that	each	of	the	following	statements	is	trueor	false.1	Very	false2More	false	than	true3Neither4More	true	than	false5Very	true	Adjustment	comes	quickly2 A	new	spouse	should	be	able	to	step	right	into	the	role	as	parent	to	his/her	stepchildren.1 A	stepfamily	should	operate	like	a	biological	family15 A	stepparent	should	share	in	child-discipline	duties	right	away.30 A	stepparent	should	expect	the	other	family	members	to	open	their	hearts	to	him/her	asreadily	as	they	do	to	each	other.27 Stepparents	should	presume	intimacy	and	authority	with	the	children.5 Stepfamily	members	should	not	be	expected	to	immediately	love	one	another	 	Partner	is	better	than	previous	partner16 A	second	(or	third,	or	fourth)	spouse	should	be	a	better	spouse	than	their	predecessor.31 The	new	spouse	should	be	more	understanding	than	a	previous	spouse.19 A	new	spouse	should	be	more	"in-tune"	to	the	quality	of	the	relationship.9 A	new	spouse	should	fill	the	emotional	holes	that	the	previous	mate	left	empty7 A	remarriage	will	be	more	fulfilling	and	satisfying	than	previous	relationships8 A	remarrying	individual	is	more	choosy	about	whom	s/he	marries.	 	Stepfamilies	are	second-class22 Overall,	a	stepfamily	is	a	poor	substitute	for	a	biological	family11 A	stepfamily	can't	offer	children	the	kinds	of	things	that	a	biological	family	can.18 Individuals	in	a	remarriage	are	less	committed	to	making	their	relationship	last34 Problems	that	occur	in	a	stepfamily	probably	would	not	occur	in	a	family	in	which	children	livewith	both	biological	parents.	 	Children	are	the	priority	over	the	couple	relationship43 Wishes	of	the	children	take	priority	over	the	wishes	of	the	new	spouse.21 Needs	of	the	new	spouse	should	come	before	needs	of	the	children.36 The	relationship	with	the	spouse	is	the	most	important	relationship	in	a	family.3 In	a	stepfamily,	children	should	feel	they	come	first.	 	History	is	unimportant28 The	functionality	of	past	relationships	has	little	to	do	with	remarriage	success.14 An	individual's	past	relationship	history	has	little	impact	on	a	remarriage.32 A	remarrying	individual	is	likely	to	repeat	the	same	patterns/behaviors	as	those	in	previousmarriages.25 Individuals	who	have	divorced	are	more	likely	to	divorce	again.*For	copy	of	the	complete	RMBI,	contact	the	first	author	by	email.Copyright	©	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Articles	appearing	in	the	Journal	become	the	property	of	theJournal.	 Single	 copies	 of	 articles	may	 be	 reproduced	 in	 electronic	 or	 print	 form	 for	 use	 in	 educational	 or	 trainingactivities.	Inclusion	of	articles	in	other	publications,	electronic	sources,	or	systematic	large-scale	distribution	may	bedone	only	with	prior	electronic	or	written	permission	of	the	Journal	Editorial	Office,	joe-ed@joe.org.If	you	have	difficulties	viewing	or	printing	this	page,	please	contact	JOE	Technical	Support©	Copyright	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Copyright	Policy

Development of the Remarriage Belief Inventory for Researchers and Educators

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Development of the Remarriage Belief Inventory for Researchers and Educators

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