Scale Analysis

The Quality of Marriage Index (QMI-6) was developed by Norton (1983) as a self-report scale designed to measure overall perceptions of marital or relationship satisfaction. Relationship satisfaction is defined as the extent to which an individual feels content within their intimate relationship.

Purpose of the Scale

The primary purpose of the QMI is to assess general marital satisfaction. As part of relationship evaluation, the QMI provides a global assessment of marriage, encompassing factors such as relationship type, attitudes, behaviors, and communication patterns. Marital quality has been shown to be associated with health outcomes, well-being, happiness, financial stability, psychological challenges, and overall quality of life.

Question Scoring

Participants are asked to reflect on how they feel within their relationship and how satisfied they are with their partner. The QMI consists of 6 positively worded items:
Five items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree).
The sixth item uses a 10-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (Much Less) to 10 (Much More).

Statistical Analysis

The total score is the sum of all six items, ranging from 6 to 45. Higher scores indicate greater marital quality.

Validity and Reliability

The QMI has been translated into Greek using a back-translation method by Tsagkarakis and Stalikas, and has demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.922. The scale is reliable and valid for assessing overall marital satisfaction. It is brief, easy to use, and suitable for both research and clinical settings.

References

Norton, R. (1983). Measuring marital quality: A critical look at the dependent variable. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 141–151.