Healthy Marriages Compendium

Communication Measures
Measures:
Conjugal Understanding Measure (deTurck & Miller, 1986)
ENRICH Communication Scale (Olson, Fournier, & Druckman, 1985)
Kansas Marital Goals Orientation Scale (KMGOS; Eggeman, Moxley, & Schumm, 1985)
Personal Report of Spouse Communication Apprehension (PRSCA; Powers &
Hutchinson, 1979)
The Premarital Communication Inventory (PCI; Bienvenu, 1975)
The Primary Communication Inventory (PCI; Locke, Sabaght, & Thomes, 1967)

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Domain:
Measure:

Communication
Conjugal Understanding Measure (deTurck & Miller, 1986)

1. I find it hard to tell my husband (wife) certain things because I am not sure how he (she)
will react.
2. I often find myself saying the wrong thing to my husband (wife).
3. Even though we are married, I often feel my husband (wife) and I are strangers.
4. I feel confident that I know how my husband (wife) would react if I told him (her) the
most intimate detail about myself.
5. I often find that my husband (wife) and I make a lot of small talk but we rarely if ever
discuss intimate personal matters.
6. I have a hard time discussing personal matters with my spouse.
7. To really know a person you have to be aware of all his/her values and beliefs.
8. In order to understand why a person feels the way s/he does about things, it is vital to
get to know the person as an individual.
9. I am afraid to tell my spouse some of the things about our relationship that I would tell
my closest friends.
10. My spouse and I cannot talk about our communication problems.
11. If my spouse and I get into an argument, we are able to find out how the disagreement
came about.
12. To really get to know a person, you must find out what makes him/her tick as an
individual.

Source:

deTurck, M. A., & Miller, G. R. (1986). Conceptualizing and measuring social

cognition in marital communication: A validation study. Journal of Applied
Communication Research, 14(2), 69-85.

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Domain:
Measure:

Communication
ENRICH: Enriching and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication,
and Happiness- Communication Scale (Olson, Fournier, & Druckman,
1985)

1 = Strongly agree
2 = Moderately agree
3 = Neither agree nor disagree
4 = Moderately disagree
5 = Strongly disagree

Communication
2. It is very easy for me to express all my true feelings to my partner.
6. When we are having a problem, my partner often gives me the silent
treatment.
39. My partner sometimes makes comments which put me down.
52. I am sometimes afraid to ask my partner for what I want.
66. I wish my partner was more willing to share his/her feelings with me.
73. Sometimes I have trouble believing everything my partner says to me.
81. I often do not tell my partner what I am feeling because he/she should
already know.
91. I am very satisfied with how my partner and I talk with each other.
98. I do not always share negative feelings I have about my partner because I am
afraid he/she will get angry.
109. My partner is always a good listener.

Source:

Tzeng, O. C. S. (1993). Measurement of love and intimate relations. Westport,

CT.: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.

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Domain:
Measure:

Communication
Kansas Marital Goals Orientation Scale (KMGOS; Eggeman, Moxley, &
Schumm, 1985)

12345-

Almost never
Once in a while
Sometimes
Frequency
Almost always

____ 1. How often do you and your husband discuss the way you would like your
marriage to be five years from now?
____ 2. How often do you and your husband make deliberate, intentional changes in
order to strengthen your relationship?
____ 3. How often do you and your husband make specific changes in your priorities in
order to enhance your marriage?
____ 4. To what extent do you think you and your husband agree on long-term goals for
your marriage?
____ 5. How often does your husband make a deliberate effort to learn more about you
so he can be more pleasing to you?
____ 6. How often does your husband consider specific ways in which he can change in
order to improve your relationship?
____ 7. How often do you and your husband discuss the primary objectives you have for
your relationship/marriage?

Source:

Corcoran, K., & Fischer, J. (2000). Measures for clinical practice: A sourcebook
(Vol. 1). New York, NY: The Free Press.

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Domain:
Measure:

Communication
Personal Report of Spouse Communication Apprehension (PRSCA;
Powers & Hutchinson, 1979)

1
Strongly Agree

5
Strongly Disagree

1. I feel awkward starting a conversation with my spouse after a heated argument.

2. When my spouse is involved in something else, I feel awkward about initiating a
conversation.
3. I feel strained and unnatural when trying to maintain a conversation with my
spouse.
4. I look forward to expressing my opinion to my spouse on controversial topics.
5. I feel tense and nervous while communicating when my spouse is in a bad mood.
6. I feel that I am more fluent in talking with my spouse than most other people are.
7. I feel self-conscious when asked to respond to the opinion of my spouse.
8. I feel no apprehension at verbalizing my immediate reaction to my spouse.
9. I look forward to evening talks with my spouse.
10. My thoughts become confused and jumbled when discussing issues important to
my spouse.
11. I feel comfortable in admitting to my spouse that I made a mistake.
12. I tend to stop communicating when it is obvious that my spouse disagrees with
me.
13. I never find it difficult to express my true feelings to my spouse.
14. Usually I try to work out problems myself instead of talking them over with my
spouse.
15. I look forward to discussing with my spouse those aspects of our relationship
most important to me.
16. I am not hesitant to criticize my spouse.
17. There are some aspects of our relationship I am definitely hesitant to discuss
with my spouse.
18. I always avoid speaking when my spouse is tired.
19. I dont hesitate to tell my spouse exactly how I feel.
20. I usually come right out and tell my spouse exactly what I mean.
21. I never hesitate to tell my spouse my needs.
22. Even in casual conversation, I feel I must guard what I say.
23. I look forward to telling my spouse my opinion on a subject.
24. I feel that I am an open communicator.
25. During periods of conflict I always let my spouse do the talking.
26. I do not talk with my spouse about things that happen during the day.
27. I am hesitant to develop casual conversations with my spouse.
28. I am comfortable in developing intimate conversations with my spouse.
29. I am comfortable in developing in-depth conversations with my spouse.
30. I am hesitant to develop a deep conversation with my spouse.
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Source:

Powers, W. G., & Hutchinson, K. (1979). The measurement of

communication apprehension in the marriage relationship. Journal of
Marriage & Family, 41(1), 89-95.

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Domain:
Measure:

Communication
The Premarital Communication Inventory (PCI; Bienvenu, 1975)

Yes
1. Do you and your fianc discuss your differences?
2. Do you have a tendency to keep your feelings to
yourself?
3. Do you and your fianc quarrel very much?
4. Does your fianc tell you when he/she is angry with
you?
5. Does he/she stop seeing you without telling you why?
6. Do you ever discuss your views about sex in marriage?
7. Do the two of you settle your disagreements to your
satisfaction?
8. Do you find it difficult to talk with your fianc?
9. Do you find his/her tone of voice irritating?
10. Do you discuss your attitudes toward premarital
sexual relations?
11. Does your fianc fail to ask your opinion in making
plans involving the two of you?
12. Does he/she have a tendency to say things which
would be better left unsaid?
13. Do you find it necessary to keep after your fianc for
his/her faults?
14. Do you communicate successfully with each others
families?
15. Does it bother you unduly for your fianc to express
his/her own beliefs even if they differ from yours?
16. Do you understand his/her feelings and attitudes?
17. Does he/she seem to understand your feelings?
18. Does your fianc nag you?
19. Do you think your fianc is too critical of you?
20. Does your fianc wait until you are through talking
before saying what he/she has to say?
21. Do you refrain from saying something when you
know it will only hurt your fianc or make matters
worse?
22. When a problem arises that needs to be solved are you
and your fianc able to discuss it together (in a calm
manner)?
23. Is your fianc very jealous of you?
24. Are you very jealous of him/her?
25. Does he/she try to lift your spirits when youre
depressed or discouraged?
26. Do you fail to express disagreement with your fianc
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No

Sometimes

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because youre afraid he/she will get angry?

27. Are you and your fianc able to disagree with one
another without losing your tempers?
28. Do you and your fianc discuss how you will manage
your money after youre married?
29. Do you have disagreements over money now?
30. Does he/she often say one thing but mean another?
31. Does your fianc complain that you dont understand
him/her?
32. Do you help your fianc to understand you by telling
him/her how you think and feel about things?
33. Do the two of you discuss what you expect of one
another in terms of a future mother and father?
34. Do you neglect discussing what you expect of one
another in terms of a future husband and wife?
35. Does your fianc often sulk and pout?
36. Do you feel that in most matters he/she knows what
you are trying to say?
37. Do you discuss your views on rearing children?
38. Do the two of you neglect discussing your religious
attitudes and beliefs?
39. Do you discuss how far you want to go in peting?
40. Is it easier to confide in a friend than in your fianc?

Source:

Bienvenu, Sr., & Millard, J. (1975). A measurement of premarital

communication. Family Coordinator, 24(1), 65-68.

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Domain:
Measure:

Communication
The Primary Communication Inventory (PCI; Locke, Sabaght, & Thomes,
1967)

Below is a list of items on communication between you and your spouse. Using the
scale described here, fill in the blank space next to each item with the number which best
represents the extent to which you and your spouse behave in the specified way.
1. How often do you and your spouse talk over pleasant things that happen during
the day?
2. How often do you and your spouse talk over unpleasant things that happen
during the day?
3. Do you and your spouse talk over things you disagree about or have difficulties
over?
4. Do you and your spouse talk about things in which you are both interested?
5. Does your spouse adjust what he/she says and how he/she says it to the way
you seem to feel at the moment?
6. When you start to ask a question, does your spouse know what it is before you
ask it?
7. Do you know the feelings of your spouse from his/her facial and bodily
gestures?
8. Do you and your spouse avoid certain subjects in conversation?
9. Does your spouse explain or express himself/herself to you through a glance or
gesture?
10. Do you and your spouse discuss things together before making an important
decision?
11. Can your spouse tell what kind of day you have had without asking?
12. Your spouse wants to visit some close friends or relatives. You dont particularly
enjoy their company. Would you tell him/her this?
13. Does your spouse discuss matters of sex with you?
14. Do you and your spouse use words which have a special meaning not
understood by outsiders?
15. How often does your spouse sulk or pout?
16. Can you and your spouse discuss your most sacred beliefs without feelings of
restraining or embarrassment?
17. Do you avoid telling your spouse things that put you in a bad light?
18. You and your spouse are visiting friends. Something is said by the friends which
causes you to glance at each other. Would you understand each other?
19. How often can you tell as much from the tone of voice of your spouse as from
what he/she actually says?
20. How often do you and your spouse talk with each other about personal
problems?
21. Do you feel that in most matters your spouse knows what you are trying to say?
22. Would you rather talk about intimate matters with your spouse than with some
other person?
23. Do you understand the meaning of your spouses facial expressions?
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24. If you and your spouse are visiting friends or relatives and one of you starts to
say something, does the other take over the conversation without the feeling of
interruption?
25. During marriage, have you and your spouse, in general, talked most things over
together?

Source:

Corcoran, K., & Fischer, J. (2000). Measures for clinical practice: A sourcebook
(Vol. 1). New York, NY: The Free Press.

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