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Commitment in Different Relationships Statuses: Validation Study of the Personal Commitment Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2015

Ana Pego Monteiro ,
Susana Costa-Ramalho ,
Maria Teresa Ribeiro  and
Alexandra Marques Pinto
Ana Pego Monteiro*
Affiliation:
Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal)
Susana Costa-Ramalho
Affiliation:
Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal)
Maria Teresa Ribeiro
Affiliation:
Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal)
Alexandra Marques Pinto
Affiliation:
Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ana Pego Monteiro. Faculdade de Psicologia. Departamento de Psicologia da Família. Alameda da Universidade. 1649–013. Lisboa (Portugal). E-mail: analipego@gmail.com.
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Abstract

This study presents the validation process of the Portuguese version of the short-form Dedication Scale (Rhoades, Stanley, & Markman, 2006; Stanley, 1986), with a sample of 924 participants in different relationship statutes. With 14 items, this short version is recommended by the authors for its simple use, when wanting to measure commitment in romantic relationships. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the instrument did not have a totally acceptable fit with the data so an exploratory factor analysis was conducted. This revealed a one-dimensional structure of the scale, and led to the exclusion of two items, which relate to a distinct meta-commitment dimension. In sum, the Portuguese version (ECP - Personal Commitment Scale) has 12 items, with good internal consistency (α = .82), correlations item-total between .36 and .60, and good criteria validity (p < .001). Its use for research is therefore appropriate. In a second study, significant differences were found between the participants' four relationship statuses (dating non-cohabiting and cohabiting relationships, formal unions and marriage) (p < .001; η2p = .03). Results showed that married participants were more committed than those in a formal union, even when controlling for several relational and socio-demographic variables. No differences were found between cohabiting and non-cohabiting dating participants. Men reported higher levels of commitment than women (p < .001; η2p = .02). Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords

commitment scaledatingcohabitationmarriagededication
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 18 , 2015 , E34
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2015 

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