Elise Chartrand

Conflict, social support, and relationship quality: an observational study of heterosexual, gay male, and lesbian couples' communication.

Data from 42 heterosexual, 46 gay male, and 33 lesbian couples were used to assess the contribution of conflict and support discussions to relationship quality. Couples completed questionnaires, and videotaped discussions were coded for levels of negative and positive behaviors. Correlations showed that behaviors were associated with relationship quality in the expected directions. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses assessed the unique contributions of individual and dyadic behaviors to the variability of relationship quality. The findings indicated that, beyond the contribution of individual negative behaviors in the conflict task, the variables of dyadic positive behaviors in the conflict task, individual positive behaviors in the support task, and perceived help accounted for unexplained variance in relationship quality. There were no differences between types of couples on levels of behaviors or on their contributions to relationship quality.

Reliability and validity of the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale in a French-Canadian sample.

The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of a French version of the Revised Childrens Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS). A sample of 2,666 school-age French-Canadian children completed the questionnaire. With regard to factor structure, the 5-factor model found in U.S. normative samples was confirmed. The internal consistency of the 5 scales and of the 2 global scales was good to excellent. Test-retest reliabilities after a 6-month period were also similar to those of the original version. Finally, the concurrent validity, assessed by a correlation with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, was also found to be good. Results of the present study show that the French version of the RCMAS is a good instrument to assess anxiety in children.

Psychometric Properties Of The French Canadian Version Of The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory For Children

The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a French version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC). The STAIC was administered to 288 French Canadian children in Grades 4, 5, and 6. The three-factor model found in the original version was confirmed. The internal consistency coefficients of the State Anxiety and Trait Anxiety scales were excellent. Test-retest reliabilities after a 6-month period were also similar to those of the original version. Finally, concurrent validity, assessed by the correlation with the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale, was also found to be good. In summary, results of the present study show that the French version of the STAIC is psychometrically sound.

Male couples' dyadic adjustment and the use of safer sex within and outside of primary relationships.

Eighty-two cohabiting men (41 male couples) provided data on their sexual behavior patterns with their primary partner and with other partners. A multifactorial index of risk behaviors was used to measure exposure to HIV, and the association between relationship adjustment in primary relationships and the use of safer sex practices was assessed. Relationship adjustment was higher among individual men using safer sex practices inside and outside of their primary relationships than among men using riskier sex practices. In addition, partners who practiced safer sex had lower relationship satisfaction when their primary partner practiced risky sex as opposed to safer sex. The findings are discussed with reference to the processes likely to account for the association between relationship quality and health outcomes.