The validity of the Communication Patterns Questionnaire.

Abstract

The Communication Patterns Questionnaire (Christensen, 1988) explores the use of various interaction patterns by couples during conflict. This study demonstrates the discriminant validity of this instrument in that most items discriminated clearly between spouses high, moderate, and low in marital adjustment. A factor analysis involving all of the items of the questionnaire indicated 4 factors, labeled Coercion, Mutuality, Post-Conflict Distress and Destructive Process. Couples high in marital adjustment reported higher levels of Mutuality, and couples low in marital adjustment reported higher levels of Destructive Process, Coercion, and Post-Conflict Distress.