Which instrument is primarily used to assess marital satisfaction and dyadic functioning?

• A. Marital Satisfaction Inventory, Revised
• B. Dyadic Adjustment Scale
• C. Beck Depression Inventory
• D. Relationship Satisfaction Scale

Answer: (B)

Understanding how satisfied partners feel and how well they function as a couple is captured most directly by a tool designed for dyadic functioning. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale assesses the overall quality of a romantic relationship by examining four areas: agreement between partners, satisfaction with the relationship, the level of shared activities and cohesion, and the warmth of affectional expression. A higher total score reflects better dyadic functioning and greater marital satisfaction, making it a widely used standard in both research and clinical practice for tracking changes over time or evaluating therapy outcomes.

Other instruments target related, but different, aspects. The Marital Satisfaction Inventory, Revised tends to focus more on specific distress patterns and problematic dynamics within the relationship. The Beck Depression Inventory measures depressive symptoms in an individual, not relationship functioning. The Relationship Satisfaction Scale is a more general measure of satisfaction and does not provide the same depth on dyadic processes as the Dyadic Adjustment Scale.