The Development of a Measure Assessing U.S. Adults’ Motives for Marriage

Bibliographic Data

ID13670568
AuthorsAmy E Thompson (0000-0003-1837-2358, Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, MN, USA, corresponding author), Megan S Jarvis (Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, WI, USA), Elle A Henne (Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, WI, USA), Hannah Pannell (Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, MN, USA), Brieanna Muzzy (Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, MN, USA)
Year2022
Volume127
Issue4
Pages2028-2049
Publication date2022-12-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00332941221144602
PMID36472450
OpenAlexW4310962888
LanguageEN
References cited32

Despite the existing literature assessing various aspects of marriage, there is a lack of understanding of adults' motives for pursuing marriage. Thus, this research advanced the literature by assessing adults' motives for marriage via four novel studies in which the Motives for Marriage Scale (MMS) was developed, refined, and validated. In study one, semi-structured focus groups were conducted to capture the range of motives for marriage. In study two, the factor structure of the MMS was assessed. The factor structure was then validated and the psychometric properties were established in study three. Finally, the temporal consistency of the scale was established in study four. The results confirmed that adults' marital motives are complex and that they are best conceptualized using Social Determination Theory (i.e., intrinsic, extrinsic, and instrumental motives). Investigation of the psychometric properties demonstrated the MMS to be reliable and valid. Implications for investigators and practitioners are discussed

Consistency (knowledge bases · Developmental psychology · Internal consistency · Psychometrics · Scale (ratio · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOI