Measuring Relationship Quality from a Strengths Perspective: An International Validation Study

Background: Even though long-term relationships take many forms, romantic coupling is a patterned and predictable feature of adulthood. Coupling has significant implications beyond the relationship, including personal emotional well-being (Proulx, Helms, & Buehler, 2007) and physical health (Kiecolt-Glaser & Newton, 2001). Understanding how individuals create enduring coupledom is, therefore, important for both research and practice, and measuring relationship quality is an essential aspect. Many of the existing scales in this area are problem focused and/or validated with a sample of couples engaged in therapy. These scales may serve a specific function, but we sought to create an alternative – a strengths-based approach to the measurement of relationship quality. This study reports on the operationalization and testing of the newly developed Relationship Quality (RQ) scale, designed to assess an individual’s perception of relationship quality in their current partnership.

Methods: Based on the literature, relationship quality was operationalized as the degree to which a commitment exists, mutual enjoyment (including companionship) is present, and a sense that this person is the “right” one. To that end, 26 items were created based on these constructs. Items were oriented towards commitment and companionship and the relationship quality as it relates to one’s relationship with her/his partner. A cross-sectional, community sample (N=8,132) from 60 countries, drawn primarily from the UK, US, and Australia, were utilized for this two-part approach to scale development study. Analysis included randomly splitting the sample into two equal subsamples (split-half), conducting an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on one subsample, and then testing the obtained factor structure with the second subsample using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

 

Results: Bivariate correlations between all of the items were performed. Ten weakly correlated items were removed, and the remaining 15 items were utilized for the EFA. After several iterations and removal of poor performing items as indicated by strong cross loadings or weak factor loadings (less than .40), a final factor model was achieved with 9 items. The CFA tested the factor structure for the RQ scale found in the EFA. A final model demonstrated excellent fit across all fit indices with the 9 items. The resulting measure demonstrated high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = .89) and evidenced convergent construct validity and known-groups criterion-related validity with theorized correlates of relationship quality.

 

Conclusion: Results of our study provide evidence for the initial validation of the relationship quality scale. Designed for and tested with a large, international sample of individuals in an enduring relationship, this new scale demonstrated evidence of factorial validity, convergent construct validity, and known-groups criterion-related validity. The resulting scale, offering a potentially efficient measure with low respondent burden, may be useful in survey research on couple relationships. The RQ also advances contemporary research interests in diverse couples (e.g., cohabitators) by using the word “partner” instead of spouse/husband/wife. The new RQ scale represents a strengths-based approach, which has the capacity to extend understandings of how relationship quality is manifest and to enrich knowledge on what constitutes relationship quality.