The existing research on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) indicated that there were problems with some of the subscales and individual items. This study was designed to improve the instrument by following the standards of construct hierarchy. Through previous research and the analyses in this study, the subscales were found to contain some items that were homogeneous and others that were more heterogeneous. This problem was corrected by selecting out items that were homogeneous; 7 first‐order scales were created which were combined to creat the 3 second‐order concepts of consensus, satisfaction, and cohesion. With a sample of distressed and nondistressed couples, a series of confirmatory factor analyses was conducted. The factor analyses provided evidence for the construct validity of the new structure of the Revised DAS (RDAS) with the distressed, nondistressed, and total samples of this study, as well as with the sample from Spanier and Thompson's (1982) study. Additional analyses correlating the RDAS with another popular marital instrument provided more evidence for the construct validity of the RDAS. Criterion validity was demonstrated by discriminant analyses results. Both internal consistency and split‐half reliability estimates demonstrated that the RDAS was reliable. The result also supported dividing the RDAS into two alternative forms for use in pre‐ and posttest studies. Summary statistics for the RDAS are presented as are implications for the field of marriage and family therapy.
The goal of this paper is to show from an interactional or systemic perspective how intimacy may be damaged through traditional sex therapy approaches. This is in opposition to stated claims by sex therapists, who have, since the pioneering work of Masters and Johnson, sought to improve intimacy by removing the impediment of poor sexual response. Prescribed masturbation in sex therapy is identified as particularly problematic in its potential for iatrogenic effects. These potentials are demonstrated from a relational perspective and from a functional perspective. Prescribed masturbation, intended to narrow the focus of attention from the "distraction" of a partner's response, may actually serve to further damage the openness and trust necessary for truly rewarding sexual expression. Difficulties in a relationship that preclude the trust necessary for open sexual interaction ought to be addressed before any sexual activity is prescribed. If clinicians' work circumvents the interactional component of the dysfunction, they may be guilty of colluding with clients in protecting them from intimacy. Recommended alternatives for clinicians are offered.
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