Open AccessPsychometric properties of the Marital Adjustment Scale during cognitive therapy for depression: New research opportunities.
Author(s) -
Jeffrey R. Vittengl,
Lee Anna Clark,
Michael E. Thase,
Robin B. Jarrett
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
psychological assessment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.96
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1939-134X
pISSN - 1040-3590
DOI - 10.1037/pas0000944
Subject(s) - psychology , psycinfo , context (archaeology) , clinical psychology , major depressive disorder , psychometrics , cognitive therapy , interpersonal communication , depression (economics) , test validity , cognition , psychiatry , medline , social psychology , paleontology , macroeconomics , political science , law , economics , biology
Poor dyadic adjustment in marital or similar relationships is common among patients seeking individual cognitive therapy (CT) for major depressive disorder (MDD). Here we examined the psychometric properties of the marital adjustment subscale (MAS) of the Social Adjustment Scale-Self-report (SAS-SR; Weissman & Bothwell, 1976). Among married or cohabiting patients receiving individual CT for recurrent MDD ( N = 306) in the context of two randomized controlled trials, the MAS demonstrated moderate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, strong convergence with the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976), and moderate relations with interpersonal problems and depressive symptoms. Controlling baseline depressive symptom severity, greater pre-CT relationship discord on the MAS predicted less reduction in depressive symptom severity and lower odds of depression remission during CT. These results support the reliability, validity, and potential utility of the MAS. Using the MAS may help investigators "mine" existing data sets including the SAS-SR to further understanding of dyadic functioning and its potential impact on depression treatment and other health outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).