ABSTRACT
The Psychological Distance Scaling Task (PDST), originally developed to assess self-schema structures, has recently been adapted to assess partner-schema structures (PSS, i.e., the degree of interconnectedness in one’s beliefs about their romantic partner). However, the psychometric properties of the partner version of the PDST have yet to be assessed. Across four studies (N = 1134), we tested whether PSS (1) were associated with relationship and, to a lesser degree, personal well-being, (2) offered predictive utility compared to self-schema structures, and (3) represented a distinct construct from attachment orientations. PSS were correlated with relationship well-being indices (i.e., relationship commitment, adjustment, satisfaction, quality, as well as causal and responsibility attributions) and, to a lesser extent, personal well-being indices (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress), supporting its convergent validity. Hierarchical regression models revealed that, generally, PSS adds predictive utility to relationship but not personal well-being after controlling for self-schema structures. Finally, PSS were weakly correlated with attachment orientations and explained additional variance in relationship well-being above and beyond attachment, supporting its divergent validity. We conclude that the partner version of the PDST is a useful tool for assessing partner schema structures.