1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«Accordingly, the main purpose of this study was to test the validity of a brief version of the IPO [Inventory of Personality Organization] (Kernberg&Clarkin, 1995) across a sample of couples and to determine if identity diffusion, primitive defenses, and reality testing explain additional variance in couple distress when controlling for neuroticism […] The second objective of this study was to clarify the role of identity diffusion, primitive defenses, and reality testing in the prediction of couple satisfaction.» (p. 87)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«The following hypothesis was tested: Identity diffusion, primitive defenses, and reality testing will explain additional variance in couple satisfaction when controlling for neuroticism.» (p. 87)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The sample consisted of 372 heterosexual couples, representative of French-Canadian couples. Participants were 18 years old and older and were married or had been cohabiting for at least 6 months.» (p. 87)

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«First, the structural validity of Kernberg’s tripartite model of personality organization—based on identity diffusion, primitive defenses, and reality testing scales of the IPO—was acceptable in CFAs[confirmatory factor analyses]. […] Second, identity diffusion, primitive defenses, and reality testing were all significantly related to couple satisfaction. […] Third, from a dyadic perspective, our results showed that, overall, couple satisfaction variability in one partner can be explained not only by his or her standing on Kernberg’s constructs, but also by his or her partner levels of personality organization and neuroticism. This finding was significant in both women and men. More specifically, in men, women-reported primitive defenses predicted low couple satisfaction in men.» (p. 92-93)