Assessing the quality of the dyadic relationship in first-time parents: development of a new instrument.

• The purpose of this research was to psychometrically evaluate the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), modified for use with new, first-time parents by extending the items of communication, sensuality, and sexuality. A total of 820 Swedish respondents, 6 months after the birth of their first child, participated in the study. Psychometric evaluation was conducted with factor analysis. The obtained factor structure was tested with multitrait analysis program. Thirty-three items were found to fit into a five-factor solution, explaining 50% of the total variance. Descriptive data revealed that most new parents were satisfied with their intimate relationship in general, but dissatisfied with their sexual lives. The modified DAS, now called the Quality of Dyadic Relationship Instrument includes 33 items and seems to be a useful, updated measurement for assessing quality of the intimate relationship in new first-time parents.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adaptation

Psychological

Adolescent

Adult

Aged

Cross-Sectional Studies

Factor Analysis

Statistical

Female

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Nursing Assessment

methods

Parents

psychology

Postnatal Care

Questionnaires

Reproducibility of Results

Spouses

psychology

Sweden

Instrument development

Social medicine

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)