Cross-cultural validity of the German translation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised

Abstract

It has become increasingly important for psychologists to interface and communicate across national boundaries. Adapting psychological instruments for use in different cultures not only saves time and money, but also facilitates international study and broadens the generalizability of findings. The current study examined empirical findings regarding the adaptation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised (MSI-R) for use with a German population. The sample included 1,522 married individuals in the United States and 333 married individuals residing in Germany. Multivariate and univariate analyses of MSI-R scale means showed significant mean effects for clinical status across all clinical scales, but relatively few and modest mean differences due to ethnicity. Additionally, analyses of factor structure invariance across samples indicated that the MSI-R factor structure remained very similar in the German and U.S. versions of the instrument. The results not only provide support for using the MSI-R as a clinical and research tool with German couples, but also have promising implications for the valid application of the MSI-R in cross-cultural investigations of marital functioning.