Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
09:55
Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
Can questionnaire reports correctly classify relationship distress and partner physical abuse?
R E Heyman1, S R Feldbau-Kohn, M K Ehrensaft
1Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794-2500, USA. richard.heyman@sunysb.edu
Summary
Standard relationship questionnaires may overdiagnose distress. For partner abuse, aggression alone isn't enough; criteria like injury or fear are crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Criminology
Background:
- Relationship adjustment and physical aggression are often assessed using questionnaires like the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and Conflict Tactics Scale.
- These measures are frequently employed as screening tools and sole classification criteria in research and clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate diagnostic interviews for relationship distress and physical abuse.
- To compare the classification accuracy of questionnaire reports against structured diagnostic interviews.
Main Methods:
- Creation of face-valid diagnostic interviews for relationship distress and physical abuse.
- Preliminary comparison of classification properties between self-report questionnaires (DAS, global satisfaction) and the structured interviews.
Main Results:
- The DAS and global satisfaction measures showed modest agreement with the structured diagnostic interview.
- Both questionnaires tended to overdiagnose relationship distress when compared to the interview criteria.
- For partner abuse, men's aggression was more frequently classified as abuse (based on injury or fear criteria) than women's aggression.
Conclusions:
- Questionnaires may overestimate relationship distress, highlighting the need for more rigorous diagnostic methods.
- Classifying partner abuse solely on the occurrence of aggression is insufficient; diagnostic criteria including injury or fear are essential.
- Gender differences in the severity and impact of aggression necessitate nuanced diagnostic approaches in partner abuse assessments.
Related Concept Videos
02:12Relationship Formation
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
01:28Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles
Attachment theory, developed initially to explain infant–caregiver bonds, has been extended to illuminate patterns of intimacy in adult romantic relationships. Psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver proposed that the attachment styles observed in infancy form a framework for how individuals approach emotional closeness and conflict in adulthood. These attachment styles—secure, avoidant, and anxious—are linked to enduring patterns of behavior and emotional regulation in adult relationships.
01:28Ending Relationships
The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...