2013 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 16-28
Purpose
This study examines the reliability and validity of a newly developed scale measuring wives' satisfaction with husbands' supportiveness during pregnancy, and tests the scale's usability.
Methods
Participants were couples undergoing their first pregnancy. Among the 800 couples recruited, 376 responded to the questionnaire and 277 were included in the analysis.
The "Scale of wives' satisfaction with husbands' supportiveness during pregnancy" assessed the wife's perceptions of supportiveness and the husband's perceptions of supportiveness. The content validity was confirmed. Couples were asked to indicate if they agreed or disagreed with each test item, using a 5-point Likert-type scale. The Quality of Marriage Index (QMI) and the Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SUBI) were used to examine the criterion-related validity of the scale.
Results
Three factors emerged from factor analysis: "Empathy for wives' feelings and health," "Support in doing housework," and "Communication between the couple relating to the birth of their baby." These factors were found to be suitable components of the scale. The correlation (r) between the wives' scale and the QMI was between .20 and .63 (p<.01-.05), while that between the husbands' scale and the QMI was between .25 and .50 (p<.01-.05). The correlation between the wives' scale and the SUBI was between .20 and .53 (p<.01-.05). These results confirm the criterion-related validity of the scale. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was between .76 and .86 (the wife's scale), and between .80 and .86 (the husband's scale). The split-half reliability coefficient was between .86 and .91 (the wife's scale), and between .86 and .90 (the husband's scale), which indicated a high internal consistency.
Conclusion
The reliability and validity of the newly developed scale were tested by analyzing the couples' perceptions. Internal consistency was found to be high, and the validity of the scale was confirmed. The developed scale will contribute to supporting individual couples during pregnancy and it was indicated that useful in critical situations.
