The Communication Patterns Questionnaire—Short Form (CPQ-SF) is an 11-item self-assessment of spouses’ perceptions of marital interactions. A cited reference review of the CPQ-SF literature revealed no formal assessment of its psychometric properties and that researchers are imprecise in their use, reporting, and referencing of the measure. Toward improving the use of the CPQ-SF in research and practice, the factor structure and psychometric properties of this scale were examined with data collected from a diverse sample of 477 married individuals. Three latent constructs were identified: criticize/defend, discuss/avoid, and positive interaction patterns. Suggestions for a more precise use of the CPQ-SF in research and practice conclude the article.
Adelman, P.K., Chadwick, K., & Baerger, D.R. ( 1996). Marital quality of Black and White adults over the life course. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 13, 361-384.
2.
Bodenmann, G., Kaiser, A., Hahlweg, K., & Fehm-Wolfsdorf, G. (1998). Communication patterns during marital conflict: A cross-cultural representation. Personal Relationships, 5, 343-356.
3.
Bradbury, T.N., & Karney, B.R. ( 2004). Understanding and altering the longitudinal course of marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 862-879.
4.
Busby, D.M., Crane, D.R., Larson, J.H., & Christensen, A. (1995). A revision of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale for use with distressed and nondistressed couples: Construct hierarchy and multidimensional scales. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 289-308.
5.
Byrne, B.M. ( 1998). Structural equation modeling with LISREL, PRELIS, and SIMPLIS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
6.
Byrne, M., & Carr, A. ( 2000). Depression and power in marriage. Journal of Family Therapy, 22, 408-427.
7.
Byrne, M., Carr, A., & Clark, M. ( 2004). Power in relationships of women with depression. Journal of Family Therapy, 26, 407-429.
8.
Caughlin, J.P. ( 2002). The demand/withdraw pattern of communication as a predictor of marital satisfaction over time: Unresolved issues and future directions . Human Communication Research, 28, 49-85.
9.
Caughlin, J.P., & Huston, T.L. ( 2002). A contextual analysis of the association between demand/withdraw and marital satisfaction. Personal Relationships, 9, 95-119.
10.
Caughlin, J.P., & Vangelisti, A.L. (1999). Desire for change in one’s partner as a predictor of the demand/withdraw pattern of marital communication . Communication Monographs, 66, 66-89.
11.
Caughlin, J.P., & Vangelisti, A.L. (2000). An individual difference explanation of why married couples engage in the demand/withdraw pattern of conflict. Journal of Social Personal Relationships, 17, 523-551.
12.
Christensen, A. ( 1987). Detection of conflict patterns in couples. In K. Hahlweg & M. J. Goldstein (Eds.), Understanding major mental disorders: The contribution of family interaction research (pp. 250-265). New York, NY: Family Process Press.
13.
Christensen, A. ( 1988). Dysfunctional interaction patterns in couples. In P. Noller & M. A. Fitzpatrick (Eds.), Perspectives on marital interaction (pp. 31-52). Philadelphia, PA: Multilingual Matters.
14.
Christensen, A., Eldridge, K., Catta-Preta, A.B., Lim, V.R., & Santagata, R. ( 2006). Cross-cultural consistency of the demand/ withdraw interaction pattern in couples. Journal of Marriage and Family, 68, 1029-1044.
15.
Christensen, A., & Heavey, C.L. ( 1990). Gender and social structure in the demand-withdraw pattern of marital conflict. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 59, 73-81.
16.
Christensen, A., & Heavey, C.L. ( 1993). Gender differences in marital conflict: The demand/withdraw interaction pattern. In S. Oskamp & M. Costanzo (Eds.), Gender issues in contemporary society (pp. 113-141). Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.
17.
Christensen, A., & Shenk, J.L. ( 1991). Communication, conflict, and psychological distance in nondistressed, clinic, and divorcing couples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 458-463.
18.
Christensen, A., & Sullaway, M. ( 1984). Communications patterns questionnaire. Unpublished questionnaire . Los Angeles: University of California .
19.
Cook, J.M., Riggs, D.S., Thompson, R., Coyne, J.C., & Sheikh, J.I. ( 2004). Posttraumatic stress disorder and current relationship functioning among World War II ex-prisoners of war. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 36-45.
20.
Crane, D.R., Middletone, K.C., & Bean, R.A. ( 2002). Establishing criterion scores for the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale and the revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale. American Journal of Family Therapy, 28, 53-60.
21.
Denton, W.H., & Burleson, B.R. (2007). The Initiator Style Questionnaire: A scale to assess initiator tendency in couples. Personal Relationships, 14, 245-268.
22.
Doss, B.D., Thum, Y.M., Sevier, M., Atkins, D.C., & Christensen, A. (2005). Improving relationships: Mechanisms of change in couple therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 624-633.
23.
Eldridge, K.A., & Christensen, A. (2002). Demand-withdraw communication during couple conflict: A review and analysis. In P. Noller & J. A. Feeney (Eds.), Understanding marriage: Developments in the study of couple interaction (pp. 289-322). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
24.
Fogarty, T.F. ( 1976). Marital crisis. In P. G. Guerin (Ed.), Family therapy: Theory and practice (pp. 325-334). New York, NY: Gardner Press.
25.
Gottman, J.M. ( 1979). Empirical investigations of marriage. New York, NY: Academic Press.
26.
Gottman, J.M. ( 1994). What predicts divorce?Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
27.
Gottman, J.M. & Notarius, C.I. ( 2000). Decade review: Observing marital interaction. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 927-947.
28.
Hahlweg, K., Kaiser, A., Christensen, A., Fehm-Wolfsdorf, G., & Groth, T. ( 2000). Self-report and observational assessment of couples’ conflict: The concordance between the Communication Patterns Questionnaire and the KPI Observation System. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 61-67.
29.
Heavey, C.L., Larson, B.M., Zumtobel, D.C., & Christensen, A. (1996). The Communication Patterns Questionnaire: The reliability and validity of a constructive communication subscale. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58, 796-800.
30.
Heavey, C.L., Layne, C., & Christensen, A. (1993). Gender and conflict structure in marital interaction-A replication and extension. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 16-27.
31.
Heffner, K.L., Loving, T.J., Kiecolt-Glaser, J.K., Himawan, L.K., Glaser, R., & Malarkey, W.B. (2006). Older spouses’ cortisol responses to marital conflict: Associations with demand/withdraw communication patterns. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 29, 317-325.
32.
Holtzworth-Munroe, A., Smutzler, N., & Stuart, G.L. ( 1998). Demand and withdraw communication among couples experiencing husband violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 66, 731-743.
33.
Jöreskog, K.G., & Sörbom, D. (2006). LISREL 8.8 for Windows [Computer software]. Lincolnwood, IL: Scientific Software International.
34.
Kiecolt-Glaser, J.K., Glaser, R., Cacioppo, J.T., MacCallum, R.C., Snydersmith, M., Kim, C., & Malarkey, W.B. (1997). Marital conflict in older adults: Endocrinological and immunological correlates. Psychosomatic Medicine, 59, 339-349.
35.
Klinetob, N.A., & Smith, D.A. ( 1996). Demand-withdraw communication in marital interaction: Tests of interspousal contingency and gender role hypotheses. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58, 945-957.
36.
Kluwer, E.S., Heesink, J.A.M., & Van De Vliert, E. (1997). The marital dynamics of conflict over the division of labor. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 59, 635-653.
37.
Kurdek, L.A. ( 2001). Differences between heterosexual-nonparent couples and gay, lesbian, and heterosexual-parent couples. Journal of Family Issues, 22, 727-754.
38.
Kurdek, L.A. ( 2004). Are gay and lesbian cohabiting couples really different from heterosexual married couples? Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 880-900.
39.
Malis, R.S., & Roloff, M.E. ( 2006). Demand/withdraw patterns in serial arguments: Implications for well-being. Human Communication Research, 32, 198-216.
40.
Noller, P., & White, A. ( 1990). The validity of the Communication Patterns Questionnaire . Psychological Assessment, 2, 478-482.
41.
Peterson, D.R. ( 1983). Conflict. In H. H. Kelley, E. Bersheid, A. Christensen, J. H. Harvey, T. L. Huston, G. Levinger, . . . D. R. Peterson (Eds.), Close relationships (pp. 360-396). New York, NY: W. H. Freeman.
42.
Roberts, L.J. ( 2000). Fire and ice in marital communication: Hostile and distancing behaviors as predictors of marital distress. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62, 693-707.
43.
Troy, A.B., Lewis-Smith, J., & Laurenceau, J.P. (2006). Interracial and intraracial romantic relationships: The search for differences in satisfaction, conflict, and attachment style. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , 23, 65-80.
44.
Vogel, D.L., Murphy, M.J., Werner-Wilson, R.J., Cutrona, C.E., & Seeman, J. ( 2007). Sex differences in the use of demand and withdraw behavior in marriage: Examining the social structure hypothesis. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 165-177.
45.
Vogel, D.L., Wester, S.R., & Heesacker, M. ( 1999). Dating relationships and the demand/withdraw pattern of communication. Sex Roles, 41, 297-314.
46.
Whisman, M.A., Uebelacker, L.A., & Weinstock, L.M. (2004). Psychopathology and marital satisfaction: The importance of evaluating both partners. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 830-838.
47.
Wolcott, I.H. ( 1986). Seeking help for marital problems before separation. Australian Journal of Sex, Marriage and Family, 7, 154-164.
