A new look at marital quality: Can spouses feel positive and negative about their marriage?

Abstract

Marital quality is examined as a 2-dimensional construct comprising positive and negative valuations. Assessments of marital quality, behavior, attributions, and general affect were completed by 123 couples. Confirmatory factor analysis up-ported the existence of positive and negative marital quality dimensions. These dimensions also explained unique variance in reported behavior and attributions beyond that explained by a conventional marital quality measure and by positive and negative affect. Ambivalent (high-positive and high-negative) and indifferent (low-positive and low-negative) wives differed in reports of behaviors and attributions but did not differ in scores on the conventional marital quality test. The implications of a 2-dimensional analysis of marital quality for theory and research are outlined. In both Britain and the United States, the majority of the problems for which people obtain professional help concern their spouse or partner (McAllister, 1995; Veroff, Kulka, & Douvan, 1981), and the deleterious effects of marital problems on physical and mental health are well documented (e.g., Burman & Margolin, 1992). Not surprisingly, the most frequently studied topic in research on marriage is marital quality. Although numerous correlates of marital quality have been identified, concerns regarding the conceptualization and measurement of marital quality continue to be expressed (e.g., Glenn, 1990; Sabatelli, 1988; Trost, 1985). The present study therefore offers a clear, simple conceptualization f marital quality, presents a means of assessing marital quality that derives from this conceptualization, and examines whether this approach to the study of marital

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