Relationship Adjustment Scale
The Relationship Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976) is a 28-item instrument which is an adaptation of Spanier's (1976) Dyadic Adjustment Scale which assesses marital satisfaction.
Abstract: The Relationship Adjustment Scale is a 28-item measure that evaluates satisfaction in the relationship of spouses or domestic partners. This scale is adapted from the instrument developed by Spanier (1976). Each item asks about an interaction between domestic partners or spouses, or about a behavior that occurs in relationships. Different groups of items contain slightly different response choices; however, all except two items estimate frequency, and all response choices are coded from 0-5 (Always Disagree to Always Agree). Another group of items asks how often the respondent thinks or behaves in a certain way. Responses for these items are coded from 0-5 (Never to All of the Time). Other questions have similar response choices. Two items do not contain frequency responses: one item asks the respondent to rate the overall "amount of happiness" in the relationship. Response options are: "Extremely Unhappy (0)," "Fairly Unhappy (1)," "A Little Unhappy (2)," "Happy (3)," "Very Happy (4)," "Perfect (5)." The other item asks how the respondent feels about the future of the relationship, with six discrete answer choices. This scale does not contain subscales. A total score is calculated as the mean of responses to the 28 items multiplied by 28. Total scores range between 0 - 140. In addition, a dichotomous score ("1" = relationship distress, "0" = no distress) is formed using a clinical cutoff of 88 on the total score. Respondents with a total score below the clinical cutoff receive a "1" to indicate elevated frequency of distress symptoms. If more than 14 items on a measure are missing responses (i.e., 50%), a total score is not calculated. Measures with all responses missing are not scored. The strong internal consistency indicates that the continuous score is useful, and it shows a difference between normative and high-risk groups. If a diagnostic indicator is desired, the dichotomous score of relationship distress is available, and also shows a group difference.
Who Completed this Measure?: Parent
Cohort 1 - Administrative History
- Year 01 | K | age 6
- Year 02 | grade 1 | age 7
- Year 03 | grade 2 | age 8
- Year 08 | grade 7 | age 13
- Year 09 | grade 8 | age 14
- Year 11 | grade 10 | age 16
- Year 12 | grade 11 | age 17
Cohort 2 - Administrative History
- Year 01 | K | age 6
- Year 02 | grade 1 | age 7
- Year 03 | grade 2 | age 8
- Year 08 | grade 7 | age 13
- Year 09 | grade 8 | age 14
- Year 11 | grade 10 | age 16
- Year 12 | grade 11 | age 17
Cohort 3 - Administrative History
- Year 01 | K | age 6
- Year 02 | grade 1 | age 7
- Year 03 | grade 2 | age 8
- Year 08 | grade 7 | age 13
- Year 09 | grade 8 | age 14
- Year 11 | grade 10 | age 16
- Year 12 | grade 11 | age 17
Technical Reports:
Raw Dataset Name: PyG
Scored Dataset Name: RASySPc
Is this Measure Available for Public Use?: No
Obtain Measure:
Adapted from Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976)
In the U.S.: 1-800-456-3003
In Canada: 1-800-268-6011
International: +1-416-492-2627
Fax: 1-888-540-4484 or +1-416-492-3343
Website: www.mhs.com
Email: customerservice@mhs.com