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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Dimensional Latent Structure of Relationship Quality: Results of Three Representative Population Samples

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One central issue for every latent construct in psychology (e.g., relationship quality) is its latent nature: Differences in intelligence, for example, are traditionally considered to be dimensional (e.g., when quantifying intelligence by a standardized test score) rather than categorical (distinguishing different categories such as intelligent vs. unintelligent). When considering a categorical construct, such as Down syndrome, on the other hand, the characteristic is qualitative (groups are classified by existence or absence of an extra chromosome) rather than quantitative (varying degrees of Down syndrome). The group bound together by the possession of a certain characteristic (disease, disorder, condition) is referred to as the taxon, or nonarbitrary latent category, and the group in which the classifying characteristic (disease, disorder, condition) is absent is referred to as the complement (see also Walters, Ronen, & Rosenbaum, 2010).IMPORTANCE OF LATENT STATUSThe latent status of a construct is important in the classification of individuals. It indicates how the construct should ideally be measured. For example, when one is dichotomizing or classifying a construct whose underlying latent structure is continuous rather than categorical, the classification is essentially arbitrary and thus might be questioned. Furthermore, the process of dichotomization always comes with a loss of information and hence a reduction of statistical power for analysis (DeCoster, Iselin, & Gallucci, 2009; MacCallum, Zhang, Preacher, & Rucker, 2002). If, however, a true categorical latent structure is present, taxometric analysis can justify different cutoff scores and provide an accurate estimation of prevalence. The latent status of a construct therefore has to be taken into account in the development of new assessment inventories and the level of measurement chosen (e.g., checklist format or Likert-types scales). If the latent structure of the construct is continuous, items covering the whole spectrum of the latent continuum (different discrimination indices) have to be included; otherwise, one would focus on using items that maximally discriminate between groups.Furthermore, information regarding the latent status may provide theoretical insights. Meehl (1992), for example, suggested that a latent categorical construct might result from specific etiological factors, threshold effects, single discrete causal factors, or developmental bifurcation. In regard to relationship quality, the following might be the case: It might be a largely dimensional construct, but as soon as a specific threshold is crossed (e.g., when the negative interactions outweigh the positive ones) relationship quality may become a qualitatively different state. This different state beyond the threshold could possibly differentially predict outcomes such as emotional withdrawal and disengagement, severe conflict, and divorce. Thus, analyzing the latent status of relationship quality can provide important insights for both clinical practice and research.TAXOMETRIC STUDIESStudies analyzing the taxometric status of relationship quality remain scarce. We know of only two studies-those conducted by Beach, Fincham, Amir, and Leonard (2005) and by Whisman, Beach, and Snyder (2008)-in which the latent nature of relationship quality was analyzed. In both studies the authors used taxometric analysis to analyze the latent status of constructs. Beach et al. used a sample of couples married for approximately 2 years (N = 447) to examine the structure of marital quality as measured by 13 items of the Marital Adjustment Test (MAT; Locke & Wallace, 1959). The results supported the presence of a marital discord taxon representing approximately 20% of the couples. Couples assigned to the taxon scored significantly lower on shared leisure activities, higher on negative partner behavior, and lower on an alternative measure of marital discord than the group identified as nondiscordant. …