Development and Initial Validation of the Dyadic Religious Assessment Questionnaire: A Measure of Couples' Religious Activities, Their Importance, and Their Meanings

Abstract

This research involved development of a research instrument, the Dyadic Religious Assessment Questionnaire (DRAQ), and an initial evaluation of its reliability and validity in the examination of the nature, subjective meaning, and importance of couples' joint religious activities. The study examined the frequencies of occurrence of various religious activities in couples' lives, how couples experience religious activities in a dyadic context, which facets of shared religious activities couples consider important and beneficial, and the degree to which these aspects of religious involvement are associated with relationship satisfaction and relationship stability. Data were obtained from 175 individuals in couple relationships who completed the DRAQ, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Marital Status Inventory-Revised. Results indicated that reliability and validity of the DRAQ were acceptable, and that frequency of joint religious activities, positive individual affect, and importance of joint religious activity benefits were significant predictors of relationship satisfaction.