This article begins by presenting a study that explored whether the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and each of its subscales could discriminate between those therapy couples who would divorce immediately after therapy and those who would not. The DAS was administered to 70 couples during the second session of marital therapy. Results of this study are then reviewed from a clinician’s perspective, and uses of the DAS as an instrument around which effective therapeutic intervention with couples can be structured are suggested. The authors present this article as an example of how clinicians can use research in their therapy, and how clinicians can contribute to the research of couples therapy.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adam, D.
, & Gingras, M. (1982). Short- and long-term effects of a marital enrichment program upon couple functioning. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 8, 97-118.
2.
Baillargeon, J.
, Dubois, G., & Marineau, R. (1986). Tranduction française de l’échelle d’ajustement dyadique [A French translation of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale]. Revue Canadienne Des Sciences Du Comportement, 18, 25-34.
3.
Becvar, D.
, & Becvar, R. (1998). Family therapy: A systemic integration. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
4.
Boszormenyi-Nagy, I.
, & Krasner, B. (1986). Between give and take: A clinical guide to contextual therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
5.
Bouchard, G.
, Sabourin, S., Lussier, Y., Wright, J., & Boucher, C. (1991). La structure factorielle de la version française de l’échelle d’ajustement dyadique [The factor structure of the French version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale]. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 25, 4-11.
6.
Brock, G.
, & Joanning, H. (1983). A comparison of the relationship enhancement program and the Minnesota couple communication program. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 9, 413-421.
7.
Busby, D.
, Christensen, C., Crane, D., & Larson, J. (1995). A revision of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale for use with distressed and non-distressed couples: Construct hierarchy and multi-dimensional scales. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 289-308.
8.
Carey, M. P.
, Spector, I. P., Lantinga, L. J., & Krauss, D. J. (1993). Reliability of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Psychological Assessment, 5, 238-240.
9.
Cookerly, J.
(1980). Does marital therapy do any lasting good?Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 6, 393-397.
10.
Crane, D.
, Allgood, S., Larson, J., & Griffin, W. (1990). Assessing marital quality with distressed and non-distressed couples: A comparison and equivalency table for three frequently used measures. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 87-93.
11.
Crane, D.
, Busby, D., & Larson, J. (1991). A factor analysis of the dyadic adjustment scale with distressed and non-distressed couples. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 19, 60-66.
12.
Donahue, K.
, & Ryder, R. (1982). A methodological note on marital satisfaction and social variables. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 44, 743-747.
13.
Filsinger, E.
, & Wilson, M. (1984). Religiousity, socio-economic rewards, and family development: Predictors of marital adjustment. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 46, 663-670.
14.
Goodrich, T.
, Rampage, C., Ellman, B., & Halstead, K. (1988). Feminist family therapy: A casebook. New York: Norton.
15.
Halford, W. K.
, & Osgarby, S. M. (1993). Alcohol abuse in clients presenting with marital problems. Journal of Family Psychology, 6, 245-254.
16.
Hartman, L. M.
, & Daly, E. M. (1983). Relationship factors in the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Behavioral Research Therapy, 21, 153-160.
17.
Jacobson, N. S.
(1984). A component analysis of behavioral marital therapy: The relative effectiveness of behavior exchange and communication/problem-solving training. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 295-305.
18.
Jacobson, N. S.
, & Follette, W. C. (1985). Clinical significance of improvement resulting from two behavioral marital therapy components. Behavior Therapy, 16, 249-262.
19.
Jacobson, N. S.
, Follette, W. C., & Pagel, M. (1986). Predicting who will benefit from behavioral marital therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 518-522.
20.
Johnson, S. M.
, & Greenberg, L. S. (1985). Differential effects of experiential and problem-solving interventions in resolving marital conflict. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 175-184.
21.
Kazak, A.
, Jarmas, A., & Snitzer, L. (1988). The assessment of marital satisfaction: An evaluation of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Journal of Family Psychology, 2, 82-91.
22.
Kurdek, L. A.
(1992). Dimensionality of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale: Evidence from heterosexual and homosexual couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 6, 22-35.
23.
Laham, J. W.
(1990). Family-of-origin intervention: An intergenerational approach to enhancing marital adjustment. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 20, 211-222.
24.
Larson, K.
(1977). The effects of communication training in small groups upon self-disclosure, marital adjustment and emotional attachment in marriage. Dissertation Abstracts International, 37, 532B.
25.
Lauer, R. H.
, & Lauer, J. C. (1990). The long-term marriage: Perceptions of stability and satisfaction. International Journal on Aging and Human Development, 31, 189-195.
26.
Locke, H.
, & Wallace, K. (1959). Short marital adjustment and prediction tests: Their reliability and validity. Marriage and Family Living, 21, 251-255.
27.
Moller, A.
, & Van Zyl, P. (1991). Relationship beliefs, interpersonal perception, and marital adjustment. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 47, 28-33.
28.
Olson, D.
(1976). Bridging research, theory, and application: The triple threat in science. In D. Olson (Ed.), Treating relationships (pp. 565-579). Lake Mills, IA: Graphic.
29.
Pinsof, W.
(1988). Strategies for the study of family therapy process. In L. C. Wynne (Ed.), The state of the art in family therapy research: Controversies and recommendations (pp. 159-174). New York: Family Process Press.
30.
Pinsof, W.
, & Wynne, L. (1995). The efficacy of marital and family therapy: An empirical overview, conclusions, and recommendations. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 585-613.
31.
Ryder, R.
(1988). The holy grail: Proven efficacy in family therapy. In L. C. Wynne (Ed.), The state of the art in family therapy research: Controversies and recommendations (pp. 47-54). New York: Family Process Press.
32.
Sabourin, S.
, Lussier, Y., Laplante, B., & Wright, J. (1990). Unidimensional and multidimensional models of dyadic adjustment: A hierarchical reconciliation. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2, 333-337.
33.
Schaefer, M.
, & Olson, D. (1981). Assessing intimacy: The PAIR inventory. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 7, 47-60.
34.
Schumm, W.
, & Bollman, S. (1982). The marital conventionalization argument: Implications for the study and religiosity and marital satisfaction. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 10, 236-241.
35.
Schumm, W.
, Paff-Bergen, L., Hatch, R., Obiorah, F., Copeland, J., Meens, L., & Bugaighis, M. (1986). Concurrent and discriminant validity of the Kansas marital satisfaction scale. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 48, 381-387.
36.
Sharpley, C.
, & Cross, D. (1982). A psychometric evaluation of the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 44, 739-741.
37.
Shek, D.
(1995). The Chinese version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale: Does language make a difference?Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51, 802-811.
38.
Shek, D.
, Lam, M., Tsoi, K., & Lam, C. (1993). Marital assessment in a Chinese context: An evaluation of three instruments. Hong Kong Journal of Social Work, 27, 80-81.
39.
Spanier, G.
(1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales of assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 38, 15-28.
40.
Spanier, G.
(1979). The measurement of marital quality. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 5, 288-300.
41.
Spanier, G.
(1985). Improve, refine, recast, expand, clarify: Don’t abandon. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 47, 1073-1074.
42.
Spanier, G.
(1988). Assessing the strengths of Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Journal of Family Psychology, 2, 92-94.
43.
Spanier, G.
, & Lewis, R. (1980). Marital quality: A review of the seventies. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 42, 825-840.
44.
Spanier, G.
, & Thompson, L. (1982). A confirmatory analysis of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 44, 731-741.
45.
Sprenkle, D.
(1976). The need for integration among theory, research and practice in the family field. Family Coordinator, 24, 261-263.
46.
Sprenkle, D.
, & Piercy, F. (1984). Research in family therapy: A graduate level course. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 10, 225-240.
47.
Van der Veen, K.
, Van der Veen, D., & Van der Veen, F. (1974). Factors of marital adjustment in Locke’s Marital Adjustment Test. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 36, 57-63.
48.
Zimmerman, T. S.
, Prest, L. A., & Wetzel, B. E. (1997). Solution-focused couples therapy groups: An empirical study. Journal of Family Therapy, 19, 125-144.
