Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) Assessment

Introduction:

The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) is a validated 14-item instrument that quantifies agreement, satisfaction, and cohesion between romantic partners during the past six months, generating a single adjustment score from 0 to 69. The concise format keeps respondent burden low while preserving strong correlations with the original 32-item Dyadic Adjustment Scale.

This tool converts each chosen response into a six-point value, reverses the polarity of negatively worded items, totals the adjusted figures, and displays the result on a colour-coded gauge. A client-side reactive engine updates progress immediately, and a lightweight charting layer visualises whether the score lies in a distressed or non-distressed band.

Couples planning a reflective check-in might complete the scale together, print their answers, and discuss low-consensus areas before minor disagreements escalate. If numbers signal distress, they can decide whether to seek evidence-based resources or professional help. Treat the result as a conversation starter, not a verdict. Results do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

Technical Details:

1 · Concept Overview

The RDAS assigns ordinal values (0–5) to fourteen items spanning consensus, satisfaction, and cohesion. Seven items invert their scale so that higher numbers consistently denote healthier adjustment. Summing every item yields a continuous index that cleanly separates distressed from non-distressed couples and tracks change over time in therapeutic settings.

2 · Core Equation

• TS – total score (0–69).
• Q^′_i – response value; 5 − Qi if the item is reverse-scored.

3 · Interpretation Bands

4 · Variables & Parameters

• Item responses – fourteen ordinal values from 0 (Never) to 5 (Always).
• Reverse-score flag – binary marker applied to seven negatively phrased items.
• Total score – integer 0–69 used for band classification.
• Band colour – visual cue drawn from accessible palette for immediate recognition.

5 · Worked Example

6 · Assumptions & Limitations

• Self-reported answers assume honesty and accurate recall.
• Cut-off derives from clinical samples and may shift in other cultures.
• Short scale omits contextual factors like mental health or socioeconomic stress.
• Tool does not weight domains differently; each item contributes equally.

7 · Edge Cases & Error Sources

• Missing answers yield underestimation of TS.
• Uniform extreme responses (all 0 or 5) may reflect disengagement rather than genuine status.
• Misinterpreting reverse-scored items inflates TS.
• Using the scale outside romantic relationships skews validity.

8 · Scientific Validity & References

The RDAS was introduced by Busby et al. (1995) and has since demonstrated solid internal consistency and criterion validity across diverse couples. Follow-up studies by Crane et al. confirm its sensitivity to therapeutic change.

9 · Privacy & Compliance

Responses remain inside the browser, aligning with GDPR expectations for anonymous, locally processed data.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Follow these actions to obtain your score:

1. Click Start Assessment to load the questionnaire.
2. For each item, choose the response that best matches the past six months.
3. The progress bar updates automatically; unanswered items are highlighted.
4. Review and, if needed, revisit any item via the side list before finishing.
5. After the final selection, read the gauge result and suggested next steps.

FAQ:

Glossary:

RDAS

14-item measure of couple adjustment.

Consensus

Degree to which partners agree on life decisions.

Cohesion

Frequency of shared activities and discussions.

Reverse scoring

Technique that flips low values to high for negatively framed items.

Clinical cut-off

Score separating distressed from non-distressed couples.