Description

The Interpersonal Communication Satisfaction Inventory (ICSI-19) is a well-established psychometric instrument designed to assess the degree of satisfaction individuals experience during interpersonal communication. Originally developed by Michael L. Hecht, the instrument is based on the premise that effective communication extends beyond the exchange of information and includes the extent to which individuals feel understood, respected, accepted, and emotionally connected during interpersonal interactions. The ICSI-19 is widely used in communication research, psychology, counseling, education, organizational behavior, healthcare, and social sciences to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of interpersonal communication.

The questionnaire measures individuals’ subjective perceptions of communication quality and focuses on the overall satisfaction derived from interpersonal interactions. It assesses several essential dimensions of communication, including:

  • Mutual Understanding – the extent to which communication partners feel they understand one another.
  • Active Listening – perceptions of attentiveness, responsiveness, and genuine interest during communication.
  • Emotional Responsiveness – feelings of empathy, emotional support, and interpersonal sensitivity.
  • Communication Effectiveness – the degree to which communication successfully achieves its intended goals.
  • Overall Communication Satisfaction – the individual’s global evaluation of the quality and pleasantness of interpersonal interactions.

The theoretical foundation of the ICSI-19 is rooted in interpersonal communication theory, which proposes that communication satisfaction is a multidimensional construct reflecting both the effectiveness of message exchange and the emotional quality of interpersonal relationships.

Analysis and Use of Data

The ICSI-19 provides researchers and practitioners with a quantitative measure of interpersonal communication satisfaction and enables the investigation of its associations with psychological, social, educational, and organizational variables.

Statistical analyses commonly include:

  • Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, medians, frequencies, and percentile distributions).
  • Reliability assessment using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega.
  • Construct validity evaluation through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).
  • Assessment of convergent and discriminant validity using measures of interpersonal relationships, empathy, communication competence, social support, relationship satisfaction, psychological well-being, and quality of life.
  • Correlation analyses using Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients.
  • Group comparisons using independent-samples t-tests, ANOVA, MANOVA, or appropriate non-parametric procedures.
  • Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses to identify predictors of communication satisfaction.
  • Mediation, moderation, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine relationships among communication, interpersonal functioning, and psychological outcomes.
  • Longitudinal analyses to evaluate changes in communication satisfaction following educational, counseling, or organizational interventions.

The ICSI-19 is widely applied in:

  • Communication research
  • Social psychology
  • Counseling and psychotherapy
  • Organizational psychology
  • Educational research
  • Family and couple therapy
  • Healthcare communication
  • Evaluation of communication skills training programs

Objective

The primary objective of the ICSI-19 is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of individuals’ satisfaction with interpersonal communication. The instrument evaluates the perceived quality of interpersonal interactions and helps identify communication strengths and weaknesses that influence relationship quality, collaboration, and psychological well-being. It also serves as a valuable outcome measure for interventions designed to improve communication skills and interpersonal relationships.

More specifically, the questionnaire aims to:

  • Assess overall interpersonal communication satisfaction.
  • Evaluate the perceived quality and effectiveness of interpersonal communication.
  • Measure feelings of understanding, acceptance, and active listening.
  • Assess emotional responsiveness during communication.
  • Identify communication difficulties affecting interpersonal relationships.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of communication skills training and counseling interventions.
  • Support scientific research on interpersonal communication and relationship quality.

Scoring

The ICSI-19 consists of 19 self-report items rated on a seven-point Likert scale. Response options are scored as follows: 7 = Strongly Agree, 6 = Moderately Agree, 5 = Slightly Agree, 4 = Neutral, 3 = Slightly Disagree, 2 = Moderately Disagree, and 1 = Strongly Disagree.

Item scores are summed to produce a total communication satisfaction score. Higher total scores indicate greater interpersonal communication satisfaction, more effective communication, stronger perceptions of mutual understanding, and more positive communication experiences.

Psychometric evaluation of the ICSI-19 commonly includes:

  • Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega)
  • Test–retest reliability
  • Construct validity
  • Convergent and discriminant validity
  • Factorial validity using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)
  • Measurement invariance across age groups, cultures, and occupational settings
  • Item analysis and corrected item–total correlations

Higher scores generally reflect greater satisfaction with interpersonal communication, stronger relationship quality, and more effective communication processes across personal, educational, healthcare, and organizational settings.

References

Hecht, M. L. (1978). The conceptualization and measurement of interpersonal communication satisfaction. Human Communication Research, 4(3), 253–264.

Hecht, M. L. (1978). Toward a conceptualization of communication satisfaction. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 64(1), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/00335637809383411

Hecht, M. L. (2004). Interpersonal Communication Satisfaction Inventory. In R. B. Rubin, P. Palmgreen, & H. E. Sypher (Eds.), Communication Research Measures: A Sourcebook (pp. 217–222). Routledge.

Rubin, R. B., Palmgreen, P., & Sypher, H. E. (1994). Communication Research Measures: A Sourcebook. Guilford Press.

Shroff, H. B. (2014). Family Resiliency, Sense of Coherence, Social Support and Psychosocial Interventions: Reducing Caregiver Burden and Determining the Quality of Life in Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease (Doctoral dissertation). Florida Atlantic University.

Whalen, C. S. (2015). Is the Reception Better on a Different Channel? Interpersonal Communication Satisfaction of Introverts and Extraverts During Face-to-Face Versus Instant Messenger Conversations (Senior Thesis). Scripps College.