Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to develop the Korean Marital Satisfaction Inventory. The Korean Marital Satisfaction Inventory(K-MSI) consists of two validity scales(Inconsistency and Conventionalization) and one global affective scale(Global Distress), and eleven additional scales measuring specific dimensions of relationship distress(Affective Communication, Problem Solving Communication, Aggression, Time Together, Disagreement About Finances, Sexual Dissatisfaction, Role Orientation, Family History of Distress, Conflict With In-Laws, Dissatisfaction With Children, Conflict Over Child Rearing). The Conflict With In-Laws scale was developed to assess conflicts in relationship with in-laws. Two preliminary studies for selecting items by item analysis were executed and the final 160 items were administered to 440 married men, 540 married women residing in Seoul and Kyung-gi area for standardization. The effects of the demographic variables such as gender, age, education, family income and job were examined. Coefficients of internal consistency of individual scales ranged from .71 to .92 and the coefficients of temporal stability(test-retest) ranged from .70 to .96. Results of factor analysis with Principal Component Analysis indicated the existence of single factor, explaining 43.37 percent of total variance. Overall, results suggested a high internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity. Implications for use of the instrument both as a clinical tool and a research instrument are discussed.