Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI): A questionnaire assessing dyadic coping in couples

Stress and coping in couples are increasingly conceptualized as dyadic phenomena. One tool for the assessment of dyadic coping processes in couples is the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), a further development of the formerly used Dyadic Coping Questionnaire (FDCT-N, Bodenmann 2000). The psychometrics of the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) have been examined in a large validation study involving a total of N = 2,399 subjects. The results provide empirical evidence for the quality of the test. The theoretically postulated dimensions of dyadic coping were empirically supported by factor analyses. The internal consistencies of the total scale and the different subscales were good. The test-retest-correlation reveals that the questionnaire is sensitive for change. The construct validity is given, the criterion validity satisfactory. Furthermore cut-off criteria are presented to differentiate between couples depending on their quality of dyadic coping. The DCI is suitable for clinical research (e.g. intervention research), couples diagnostic, evaluation of couples therapy, developmental or health psychology.