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BGSU_Dissertations_0438_Clionsky.pdf (4.29 MB)

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The Clinical Validation of the Marital Description Index

Clionsky, Mitchell I.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566463048509752

Abstract Details

1977, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Psychology.
This investigation undertook a construct validation of the Marital Description Index (MDI), a standardized, multiphasic instrument for the assessment of marital satisfaction (Clionsky, Kirschner, and Warehime, 1976). Forty-four therapy clients entering either marital counseling or sexual dysfunction treatment were administered the MDI as part of the intake procedure. Their scores on the nine clinical scales of the MDI were compared with scores previously obtained (Clionsky, et al. 1976) from 335 married individuals in the general population. In addition, the therapy group's scores were correlated with their subjective appraisal of satisfaction in each of the nine areas and with their therapist's assessment of their satisfaction in these areas. Therapy clients scored significantly more dissatisfied (p<.001) than did non-therapy individuals on the MDI subscales, both overall and in all but one of the specific areas. With a few exceptions, their subscale scores correlated significantly (p<.05) with their subjective feelings of satisfaction in each area and with their therapist's judgment of their satisfactions in each area. However, none of the scales showed significant average correlations with unrelated criteria. Finally, the subscales were found to have significantly lower (p<.01) intercorrelations for the therapy group than for the more general population. These findings were interpreted as showing that the MDI possesses some degree of validity in measuring the construct of marital satisfaction. It satisfactorily separates behaviorally-identified dissatisfied individuals from those in the general population and its subscales reflect both the self-rated satisfactions of the respondent and the satisfactions as judged by experienced clinicians. Additionally, low inter-subscale relationships argue for viewing marital satisfaction more as a composite of specific satisfactions than as a general construct.
Neil Kirschner (Advisor)
Psychology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Clionsky, M. I. (1977). The Clinical Validation of the Marital Description Index [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566463048509752

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Clionsky, Mitchell. The Clinical Validation of the Marital Description Index. 1977. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566463048509752.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Clionsky, Mitchell. "The Clinical Validation of the Marital Description Index." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 1977. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566463048509752

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1566463048509752
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