Deccan Education Society's
Fergusson College
(Autonomous)
Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University
Pinaak Kapse
TYBA (Non-Grant)
Roll No- 215868
Teacher-Vijay Rangari Sir
Marriage Adjustment Scale
Purpose of the test
To assess one’s marital adjustment level with the help of Marriage Adjustment inventory.
Case history
Ghandhali More, a 48-year-old female, pursued an arts degree in her undergraduate studies and
subsequently worked in sales for 20 to 25 years. During this time, she met her husband, who
studied science at Fergusson College and later pursued an MBA in marketing. They had a love
marriage and tied the knot when Ghandhali was 27 years old. Following her extensive
experience in sales, Ghandhali venture into entrepreneurship, establishing her own consultancy
business, which she has successfully run for the past 10 years. Today, Ghandhali and her husband
are proud parents of a 20-year-old daughter.
When talking about the subject's marriage, it is understood that she and her husband have
separate bank accounts, where she manages household expenses and savings, while her husband
handles large expenditures such as vacations. They had taken a joint loan for the car they bought.
Regarding her daughter, the subject mentioned that she wasn't very involved in her studies during
her early years, but she took charge of her academics during her 9th and 10th standards. Despite
their busy schedules, the family regularly sets aside time to have meals together. Although they
don't have fixed timings, whenever they find time, the entire family watches movies and goes out
for dinner. The subject's tastes differ from those of her husband and daughter, but she is always
willing to compromise in that context. Political discussions are mostly avoided to prevent major
arguments; any other differences are addressed through clear communication. The subject adjusts
her views at times and occasionally keeps her opinions to herself.
Introduction
What is adjustment?
Adjustment, in a general sense, refers to the process of adapting, modifying, or changing one's
behavior, attitudes, or mindset to effectively cope with new or challenging situations. It involves
making necessary changes in one's thoughts, feelings, and actions to align with the demands of a
particular environment, circumstance, or relationship.
Different types of adjustments
Personal adjustment: Personal adjustment involves managing emotions, adapting beliefs, altering
behaviors, and reshaping one's identity to align with changing circumstances.
Social adjustment: In social adjustment, individuals navigate interpersonal dynamics, adhere to
diverse cultural norms, balance various roles in relationships, integrate into different peer groups,
and effectively communicate within communities.
Family adjustment: Family adjustment is crucial, involving adapting to marital intricacies,
parental responsibilities, sibling dynamics, and extended family relationships.
Career adjustment: Career adjustment centers around adapting to the demands and changes
within the workplace, including acclimating to new job roles, responsibilities, and team
dynamics. It also encompasses coping with unemployment, retirement, or changes in
professional paths, requiring individuals to reevaluate their skills, goals, and work-life balance.
What is Martial Adjustment?
Marital adjustment refers to the ability of a married couple to adapt, modify, and navigate
various aspects of their relationship to maintain harmony, satisfaction, and stability in their
marriage. It involves the capacity of both partners to understand, accommodate, and accept each
other's differences, resolve conflicts effectively, and communicate openly and honestly. Marital
adjustment encompasses emotional intimacy, communication skills, sexual satisfaction, shared
responsibilities, and mutual support.
Practical utility of the test
1.Assessment and Diagnosis: Marriage counselors and therapists use the MAI as an assessment
tool to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses within a marital relationship. By evaluating the
responses, therapists can identify specific areas of concern and understand the dynamics of the
relationship better.
2. Customized Interventions: Based on the results of the MAI, therapists can design customized
interventions tailored to the couple's specific needs. For example, if communication is identified
as a problem area, therapists can focus on communication skills training. This personalized
approach enhances the effectiveness of therapy.
3.Research and Studies: Researchers use the MAI to conduct studies on marital relationships.
The inventory provides quantifiable data, allowing researchers to analyze trends, correlations,
and factors affecting marital adjustment across diverse populations. This research informs the
development of therapeutic techniques and relationship education programs.
4.Premarital Counseling: The MAI can be used in pre-marital counseling sessions to assess the
compatibility and potential challenges faced by the engaged couple. Identifying areas of concern
before marriage allows couples to address issues proactively, leading to stronger relationships.
Introduction
The Marriage Adjustment Inventory, authored by C.G. Deshpande and published in 1997, is a
25-item test divided into two parts. Part A consists of 15 items, and Part B consists of 10 items.
The Part A test has rated statements on a 5-point scale, with the first option being 1 mark and the
fifth option being 5 marks. Part B also uses a 5-point scale, where "Strongly Agree" is scored as
1 and "Strongly Disagree" is scored as 5.
Psychometric properties
Reliability: Reliability: A score of .83 was achieved using the split-half method, where
odd-numbered items were compared to even-numbered items.
Validity: It is measured against personal adjustment score by serail correlation. The score
obtained was .49
Norms: Norms for this test were taken through 300 married individuals with at least one child
Material
1. Marriage Adjustment Inventory
2. Test manual
3. Stationary
4. Wooden screen
Test administration
The subject was called into the cubicle and the test administrator established rapport with
him/her and took a case history. The subject was given the test booklet to fill out the required
information. The test administrator then read the following instructions aloud as given in the test
booklet. Before permitting the subject to leave the testing room the administrator checked
carefully to see that every question had been marked with one and only one answer.
The test was administered to the subject, responses were scored and the subject’s score was
calculated.
Precautions
1. Instructions were read from the Test.
2. Rapport and case history was taken prior to conduction.
3. Informed consent was obtained from the subject.
Result table
Test Factor Raw Score Interpretation
Marriage adjustment 46 High on marriage adjustment
Interpretation of the result table
Marriage adjustment refers to the ability of a married couple to navigate challenges, resolve
conflicts, and maintain a satisfying and harmonious relationship. It involves effective
communication, mutual understanding, emotional support, and the ability to adapt to changes
and differences within the marriage.
The case history of the subject aligns with the results obtained from the test. The subject's
marriage appears to be very healthy, with both partners understanding each other well. They have
a proper financial understanding and clear boundaries within their marriage. Additionally, both
partners take care of their child attentively, focusing on her academic and other aspects of life.
The subject is willing to adjust and make sacrifices, such as minor adjustments in food choices,
for the well-being of her daughter and partner. This alignment between the case history and test
results suggests a positive marital situation.
Conclusion
When, C.G. Deshpande’s Marriage Adjustment Inventory was administered to the subject, the
subject was found to be High on Marriage Adjustment.
References
English Marriage Adjustment Inventory
(Psychology)IndiaMARThttps://www.indiamart.com › ... › Psychology Books
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF EDUCATIONAL AND ...National Council of Educational Research
and Traininghttps://ncert.nic.in › students › NLEPT_Catalogue
MARITAL ADJUSTMENT TEST (MAT)The Fetzer Institutehttps://fetzer.org › stories › pdf ›
selfmeasures
