Purpose of the Scale

The Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-32) is a tool designed to assess relationship satisfaction among intact couples (married, cohabitating, or couples in the early stages of dating). This measure includes items aimed at evaluating the presence of problems between individuals and the intensity of these problems.

Scale Analysis

The CSI-32 was developed by Funk & Rogge (2007) and consists of 32 items/questions. The scale includes a variety of elements with different response formats and scales. The authors have also clarified that the scale can be safely reduced to a 16-item or even a 4-item format, depending on the needs of the researcher.

Scoring

The scoring of the CSI-32 is as follows: respondents are asked to answer 32 questions, with the first 7 questions graded using a 7-point Likert scale, where 0 = extremely unhappy and 6 = perfect. The remaining 31 questions use a variety of response anchors, all with a 6-point scale. An example item could be, “I feel I can trust my partner with almost anything.” The scores on the CSI-32 correlate highly with other measures of relationship satisfaction (including all the measures that contributed to its initial development) and distinguish between relationships with and without problems.

Statistical Analysis

Higher scores indicate higher levels of relationship satisfaction. The total score is the sum of the individual responses and can range from 2 to 158. CSI-32 scores below 104.5 suggest significant dissatisfaction in the relationship.

Validity and Reliability

The CSI-16 is a valid and reliable measure for assessing marital satisfaction, as there is no longer any uncertainty regarding its effectiveness. The internal consistency index was quite high, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.94.

Bibliography

Fincham, F. D., & Rogge, R. (2010). Understanding relationship quality: Theoretical challenges and new tools for assessment. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 2(4), 227-242.
Forouzesh Yekta, F., Yaghubi, H., Mootabi, F., Roshan, R., Gholami Fesharaki, M., & Omidi, A. (2017). Psychometric characteristics and factor analysis of the Persian version of Couples Satisfaction Index. Avicenna Journal of Neuro Psycho Physiology, 4(2), 49-56.
Funk, J. L., & Rogge, R. (2007). The couples satisfaction index (CSI). Michigan: Fetzer Institute.
Funk, J. L., & Rogge, R. D. (2007). Testing the ruler with item response theory: Increasing precision of measurement for relationship satisfaction with the Couples Satisfaction Index. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(4), 572.
Krafft, J., Haeger, J., & Levin, M. E. (2017). The interaction of mindful awareness and acceptance in couples satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 113, 20-23.
Munro, B. H. (2005). Statistical methods for health care research (Vol. 1). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Okhotnikov, I. A., & Wood, N. D. (2020). Adaptation of the couples satisfaction index into Russian. Contemporary Family Therapy, 42(2), 140-151.