Development and validation of the couples' beliefs and thoughts scale

Couples' beliefs and thoughts are included among the most important factors that should be considered in the process of consulting with couples. This study aimed to develop, validate and determine a scale for measuring couples' beliefs and thoughts. In the first study, 39 couples were selected. Using semi-structured interviews and literature review, 67 beliefs and thoughts were identified and 52 items were prepared after the process of data validation. In the second study, 65 couples were randomly selected and answered a scale of 52 items. After data was analyzed using correlation coefficient between each item and the whole scale, 48 items were selected. In the third study, 201 couples were selected and answered a scale of 44 items. The results of the factor analysis of the scale showed that 44 questions had a factor loading of more than 0.4 and that the scale is saturated with 8 factors. In the fourth study, 53 couples were selected to measure the final reliability of the scale. They completed the final scale of 44 items. Internal consistency coefficients were obtained for all calculated factors using Cronbach's alpha. In the fifth study, 37 couples were selected in order to determine the reliability of the retest and the simultaneous validity of the scale. The reliability of the test and retest with a two-week interval was calculated. To measure the simultaneous validity of couples' beliefs and thoughts, the couples' Relationship Attributions Measure(RAM) were used. All correlation coefficients were significant. Therefore, based on the results, the scale has appropriate psychometric properties and can be used in the related researches and in family counseling services.