Affiliation:
1. Family Studies and Research University Centre Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milan Italy
2. Department of Human Sciences Università LUMSA Rome Italy
3. Department of Psychology Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milan Italy
4. Department of Human and Social Sciences Università degli Studi di Bergamo Bergamo Italy
Abstract
AbstractNo previous studies have analyzed values as qualities of relational microsystems, such as the romantic couple. Based on Schwartz's Theory of Human Values, this study examines the psychometric properties of the Portrait Couple Values Questionnaire (PCVQ). It measures four couple value dimensions: conservation, openness to change, self‐enhancement, and self‐transcendence. Five hundred and forty‐six Italian respondents (54.1% women), aged 41.52 years (SD = 7.19; range 23–63) and having a couple relationship, have filled in an anonymous online questionnaire. The results show the good psychometric properties of the PCVQ. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis Magnifying Glass Strategy shows good indexes of fit for each value dimension, except for the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) for openness to change, thus confirming that the PCVQ measures the four values with satisfactory internal consistency. The Multidimensional Scaling results, by showing a Stress‐1 index of 0.07, confirm the circular structure of values because the four value dimensions are in the position predicted by Schwartz's model. Participants' personal and couple values are highly but not perfectly correlated, suggesting that couple values are a related but distinct construct compared to personal values. This study's contribution lies in introducing an innovative construct into the literature on values and couples, proposing a scale to assess it.
Subject
Life-span and Life-course Studies,Developmental and Educational Psychology,Anthropology,Social Psychology