Development of Marital Happiness Scale

Abstract

This study presents the Marital Happiness Scale (MHS), a tool designed to assess the degree of happiness associated with various aspects of marriage among married individuals. The validity of the MHS was tested using three methods: exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and criterion validity testing. EFA was conducted on data from 420 married individuals, CFA on data from 221 participants, and criterion validity was examined using data from 272 individuals. EFA results indicated that the MHS comprises two factors, namely Emotional Intimacy and Marital Commitment, which together explained 70% of the total variance. CFA confirmed the construct validity of the two-factor model. The criterion validity of the MHS was assessed by examining the correlation coefficients between the MHS and the Spouse Support Scale (SSS) and the Couple Burnout Scale-Short Version (CBMS). The MHS demonstrated a significant and positive correlation with the SSS at a high level and a significant but negative correlation with the CBMS at a moderate level. The reliability of the MHS was tested using three methods: Cronbach's alpha (α), McDonald's omega (ω), and test-retest reliability coefficients. For the MHS, Cronbach's α and McDonald’s ω were both .97, and the test–retest reliability coefficient was r = .85. The results indicate that the MHS is a valid, reliable, and useful instrument for measuring happiness in married individuals.

Keywords

• marital happiness
• emotional intimacy
• marital commitment
• married individuals
• scale development

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