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Marital Psychological Distance Scale3

Marital Psychological Distance Scale Test

With 69 questions and an estimated completion time of 13 minutes, the Marital Psychological Distance Scale Test examines how spouses connect across values, social ties, routines, personal space, belongings, and physical closeness. Your results can highlight patterns of alignment and separation, supporting thoughtful reflection on your relationship.

Questions: 6913 minutes

Marital Psychological Distance Scale: situation and reply bubbles

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

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Daniel Hall Psychologist · Test reviewer

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Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

Values DistanceVD

Measures how closely spouses align in core life attitudes and values.

example score9/19

9/19Moderate alignmentexample score

0 – 6Low alignment

7 – 13Moderate alignment

14 – 19High alignment

A score of 9 indicates moderate value alignment, suggesting some shared beliefs alongside notable differences that may influence day-to-day decisions.

Social Ties DistanceSTD

This scale measures how involved spouses are in each other’s social contacts and shared social life.

example score10/13

10/13High integrationexample score

0 – 4Low integration

5 – 9Moderate integration

10 – 13High integration

A score of 10 indicates high social integration, suggesting strong openness and involvement in each other’s social ties.

Daily Routine and Time-Use Habits DistanceDRaTUHD

Measures how closely spouses’ daily routines and time-management habits align with each other.

example score2/6

2/6Low alignmentexample score

0 – 2Low alignment

3 – 4Moderate alignment

5 – 6High alignment

A score of 2 indicates low alignment in temporal habits, suggesting notable differences in daily routines and time use that may require extra coordination.

Personal Belongings DistancePBD

Measures how open and trusting spouses are about access to each other’s personal belongings and property.

example score3/8

3/8Some opennessexample score

0 – 2More guarded

3 – 5Some openness

6 – 8Very open

A score of 3 suggests some openness around personal items, with noticeable boundaries still present between partners.

Territorial DistanceTD

Measures how much spouses share versus separate personal space and everyday territory within the relationship.

example score2/10

2/10Separated territoryexample score

0 – 3Separated territory

4 – 7Mixed territory

8 – 10Shared territory

A score of 2 suggests the couple tends to keep personal space and day-to-day territory relatively separate rather than openly shared.

Physical DistancePD

Measures the degree of physical closeness between spouses, including comfort with touch and time spent together.

example score11/13

11/13High physical closenessexample score

0 – 4Low physical closeness

5 – 9Moderate physical closeness

10 – 13High physical closeness

A score of 11 falls in the High physical closeness range, suggesting strong comfort with physical intimacy and shared physical presence.

Overall ClosenessOC

Measures overall psychological intimacy and perceived harmony between spouses across key areas of the relationship.

example score8/69

8/69Low closenessexample score

0 – 27Low closeness

28 – 50Moderate closeness

51 – 69High closeness

A score of 8 falls in the Low closeness range, suggesting a relatively high degree of psychological distance and limited emotional connection across the measured areas.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Couples feeling emotionally distant

41%OF USERS

Partners who sense growing detachment or frequent misunderstandings take it to pinpoint where closeness has weakened.

Couples in counseling or workshops

34%OF USERS

Spouses working with a therapist or in a relationship program use it to identify specific tension areas and track progress.

Newlyweds and life-transition couples

25%OF USERS

Couples adjusting to changes like a new baby, relocation, or career stress take it to check alignment on boundaries, plans, and support.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

Distance of ValuesDoV

You?

Average14.2

Typical rangeTypical11.5 – 17

Possible0 – 19

Social distanceSd

You?

Average7.6

Typical rangeTypical5.3 – 9.9

Possible0 – 13

The Distance of Temporal HabitsTDoTH

You?

Average2.3

Typical rangeTypical1.5 – 3.1

Possible0 – 6

Personal spacePs

You?

Average5.5

Typical rangeTypical4.1 – 7

Possible0 – 8

Distance of the territoryDott

You?

Average7.4

Typical rangeTypical5.6 – 9.2

Possible0 – 10

Physical Body DistancePBD

You?

Average5.2

Typical rangeTypical2.9 – 7.5

Possible0 – 13

Overall closeness scoreOcs

You?

Average21.3

Typical rangeTypical11.3 – 31.3

Possible0 – 69

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

You are invited to participate in a survey on issues facing the contemporary family. Please read each pair of statements carefully and select the one that best reflects your views. There are no “good” or “bad” statements; all describe aspects of modern family life in different ways—some may fit certain families and not others. Please try to recall or imagine what is characteristic of your family.

- A) It is hurtful if one spouse forgets to congratulate the other on their shared anniversary.
- B) It is inevitable that some dates may be forgotten; this does not mean there is no love.
- A) Most married people always feel like the master of the house, even if relatives live with them.
- B) Many married people like to get up earlier than others because only then do they feel as if they are alone in the home and feel like the master of the house.
- A) It is quite possible to eat without waiting for the family to gather at the table.
- B) Eating lunch alone is very difficult; I cannot eat a bite.

These are 3 of the 69 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Marital Psychological Distance Scale Test - Description and methodology of the test

family adaptation

family

People who want to understand where closeness is shared or divided in their marriage may find the Marital Psychological Distance Scale Test a useful starting point. Spouses reflecting on everyday expectations, boundaries, companionship, and intimacy can use this marital psychological distance questionnaire to organize their thoughts. The profile organizes these themes into interpretable dimensions, giving couples a clearer basis for conversation about connection and difference.

What This Assessment Explores

This marital closeness assessment covers:

Values Distance (0-19) measures similarity in values and attitudes: Low alignment 0-6; Moderate alignment 7-13; High alignment 14-19.
Social Ties Distance (0-13) measures social integration: Low integration 0-4; Moderate integration 5-9; High integration 10-13.
Daily Routine and Time-Use Habits Distance (0-6) measures time coordination: Low alignment 0-2; Moderate alignment 3-4; High alignment 5-6.
Personal Belongings Distance (0-8) measures openness about property: More guarded 0-2; Some openness 3-5; Very open 6-8.
Territorial Distance (0-10) measures shared space: Separated territory 0-3; Mixed territory 4-7; Shared territory 8-10.
Physical Distance (0-13) measures physical closeness: Low physical closeness 0-4; Moderate physical closeness 5-9; High physical closeness 10-13.
Overall Closeness (0-69) reflects closeness across dimensions: Low closeness 0-27; Moderate closeness 28-50; High closeness 51-69.

Methodology and Evidence Base

Each item presents two contrasting statements about a familiar marital situation, including support, friendship, privacy, household activity, leisure, and intimacy. The respondent selects the alternative that best represents their view. This forced-choice format captures expectations and preferences, which may shift with mood, conflict, or relationship stage.

The questionnaire presents separate dimension totals and an overall total. Higher scores represent greater unity, integration, coordination, openness, shared territory, physical closeness, or harmony according to the relevant scale definition. Printed bands locate each result within its range, helping compare patterns across dimensions and organize themes for reflection.

As an online marital psychological distance measure, the questionnaire is conceptually consistent with Kurbatkina’s Psychological Distance in Marriage Questionnaire and related work by Christensen and Shenk on psychological distance in couples. The online questionnaire is a structured self-report profile, and those sources do not serve as validation for this version. Honest responding, self-awareness, and present circumstances can shape results, limiting causal or predictive interpretation.

Author: C. E. Christensen, J. H. Larson

Literature:

Kurbatkina, Yulia Viktorovna. (2006). Experience of Creating a New Questionnaire "Psychological Distance in Marriage". Psychological Diagnostics, No. 3, pp. 47-67.
Kurbatkina, Yulia Viktorovna. (2006). Psychological Distance in Marriage: Dissertation for the Degree of Candidate of Psychological Sciences. Moscow, 174 pp.
Christensen, Andrew, and James L. Shenk. (1991). Communication, Conflict, and Psychological Distance in Nondistressed, Clinic, and Divorcing Couples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59(3), 458-463. 10.1037/0022-006X.59.3.458

Updated: 2025-10-02