A Measurement of Premarital Communication

Abstract

A study of 184 college-age premarital couples on their communications interaction resulted in a revised 40-item scale differentiating between good and poor communication. Utilizing this premarital communication inventory,' a second study of 265 couples contemplating marriage was undertaken to establish mean scores. These attempts are relevantfor understanding components of healthy communication and provide a toolfor further research. Implications are also drawn for use of the inventory in premarital counseling, marriage preparation workshops, and for teaching marriage education courses.