Positive-Negative Semantic Differential (PN-SMD)

Abstract

The Positive-Negative Semantic Differential (PN-SMD) is a specialized Psychological Assessment instrument designed to measure the perceived quality of intimate relationships. Unlike traditional, unidimensional measures of satisfaction, the PN-SMD explicitly separates relationship quality into two distinct, relatively independent factors: positive qualities (rewards and enjoyment) and negative qualities (distress and dissatisfaction). This bifactorial approach enhances the scale’s ability to capture the complex, often mixed, nature of individuals’ experiences within their relationships, providing a more nuanced understanding of relationship dynamics than a single overall satisfaction score.

Keywords

Positive-Negative Semantic Differential, PN-SMD, relationship quality, Relationship satisfaction, marital satisfaction, semantic dimensions, positive affect, negative affect, dyadic adjustment.

Authors

Mattson, R. E., Paldino, D., Johnson, M. D., Rogge, R. D., Baker-Davidson, E. K. B., Fincham, F. D.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PN-SMD is to provide a comprehensive and psychometrically robust measure of relationship quality by moving beyond the limitations of single-score satisfaction scales. Researchers, particularly Mattson and colleagues (2007, 2012), developed the instrument to demonstrate that positive and negative aspects of a relationship are not merely endpoints of a single continuum but rather separate, measurable constructs. This distinction is crucial for understanding why couples might simultaneously report high levels of positive feelings and significant distress.

The scale aims to improve predictive validity in clinical and research settings, allowing practitioners to assess both the protective factors (positive dimension) and risk factors (negative dimension) within a relationship. By capturing these separate dimensions, the PN-SMD facilitates a more precise diagnosis of relationship health and informs targeted interventions.

Construct

The PN-SMD is theoretically grounded in the premise that relationship quality is best conceptualized as having two orthogonal or independent dimensions. This approach contrasts sharply with the traditional view that satisfaction and dissatisfaction operate on a single spectrum. The scale employs the Semantic Differential technique, asking respondents to rate their relationship along several semantic descriptors.

The two constructs measured are: Positive Relationship Qualities, which reflect feelings of reward, enjoyment, and security (e.g., interesting, friendly, sturdy); and Negative Relationship Qualities, which reflect feelings of distress, emptiness, and conflict (e.g., lonely, boring, miserable). The independence of these two factors allows researchers to study how high positive feelings can coexist with high negative feelings, a phenomenon frequently observed in high-passion, high-conflict relationships.

Validity

Extensive research, notably published in Psychological Assessment (Mattson et al., 2007) and Personal Relationships (Mattson et al., 2012), supports the scale’s validity. The PN-SMD demonstrates increased Construct validity and overall utility compared to traditional measures like the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS).

• Discriminant Validity: The two subscales (Positive and Negative) were found to be largely independent, confirming the theoretical separation of positive and negative relationship dimensions.
• Criterion Validity: The PN-SMD subscales show differential patterns of correlation with other key relational variables, such as communication patterns, commitment levels, and conflict styles, demonstrating superior predictive power over unidimensional measures of relationship satisfaction.
• Convergent Validity: The PN-SMD scores correlate appropriately with existing measures of relationship satisfaction, marital distress, and general well-being, confirming that the scale measures the intended domain of relationship functioning.

Reliability

The PN-SMD exhibits strong internal consistency, confirming that the items within each dimension reliably measure their respective constructs. Both the Positive and Negative subscales typically report high reliability coefficients (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha values often exceeding .90 in clinical and non-clinical samples), indicating excellent internal consistency. This high level of reliability ensures that the scores derived from the scale are stable and trustworthy for research and practical application.

Factor Analysis

The underlying structure of the PN-SMD has been confirmed through confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). These analyses consistently support a two-factor model, where the positive items load strongly onto a single Positive dimension factor, and the negative items load strongly onto a separate Negative dimension factor. The factors are typically found to be correlated but sufficiently distinct to warrant separate scoring. This robust two-factor structure validates the scale’s fundamental theoretical premise regarding the independent nature of positive and negative semantic dimensions in relationship evaluation.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report inventory; Psychological Assessment of relationship quality.

Format: 14 items (7 positive, 7 negative) rated on an 8-point Likert scale.

Language Available: English (Primary).

Population Group: Individuals in intimate or romantic relationships (e.g., dating, cohabiting, married).

Age Group: Adult (18 years and older).

Population Details: Used across diverse samples of couples, including those seeking therapy and those recruited from general populations.

Test Methodology: Respondents are asked to rate how accurately each provided adjective describes their relationship currently, using a scale ranging from 0 (“Not at all”) to 7 (“Completely”). Separate scores are calculated for the Positive and Negative dimensions.

Keywords

PN-SMD, relationship assessment, psychometrics, marital therapy, two-factor model, positive dimension, negative dimension, construct validity.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence is typically directed to the lead authors, R. E. Mattson or F. D. Fincham, affiliated with institutions such as Binghamton University (State University of New York) at the time of publication.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: The scale is generally available for use in academic research, though researchers should contact the authors for formal permission or updated usage guidelines.

Fee: Typically free for non-commercial research use.

Test Year: The scale was formally validated and published in 2007 (Mattson, Paldino, & Johnson) and further elaborated in 2012/2013 (Mattson et al.).

Reference’s

The PN-SMD instrument and related research can be accessed via the following sources. The original instrument PDF can be downloaded here: https://www.binghamton.edu/marriage-lab/pdfs/pn-smd.pdf. An updated manuscript PDF is available here: http://fincham.info/papers/PNSMD_MS%20up‎dateD.pdf.

• Mattson, R. E., Paldino, D., & Johnson, M. D. (2007). The increased construct validity and utility of assessing relationship quality using separate positive and negative dimensions. Psychological Assessment, 19, 146–151.
• Mattson, R. E., Rogge, R. D., Johnson, M. D., Baker-Davidson, E. K. B., & Fincham, F. D. (2012). The positive and negative semantic dimensions of relationship satisfaction. Personal Relationships, Personal Relationships, 20 (2013), 328–355. The full text is available online: Online.
• German, Nicole Marie. (2013). Assessment of Disharmony and Disaffection. Auburn University. Doctoral thesis.
• Cunningham, S. Karlene Brown. (2010). Reevaluating Sexual Satisfaction through an Expectancy Lens: Validation of the Sexual Activity Frequency and Expectation Scale. Auburn University. Master of Science thesis.

Items of the Positive-Negative Semantic Differential (PN-SMD)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Positive qualities

My relationship is…

• Interesting
• Full
• Sturdy
• Enjoyable
• Good
• Friendly
• Hopeful

Negative qualities

My relationship is…

• Bad
• Lonely
• Discouraging
• Boring
• Empty
• Fragile
• Miserable

Response Scale:

0=Not at all, 1=A tiny bit, 2=A little, 3=Somewhat, 4=Mostly, 5=Very, 6=Extremely, 7= Completely