Intimate Bond Measure – IBM
Measures the quality of an intimate relationship along the dimensions of care and control.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Intimate Bond Measure – IBM was developed by Wilhelm, K. & Parker, G. (1988). It is designed to measure Intimate relationship quality. The scale is intended for use with Adults in intimate relationships.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 24 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Care, Control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Care | 1,4,5,8,10,13,14,16,18,21,23,24 | 12 |
| Control | 2,3,6,7,9,11,12,15,17,19,20,22 | 12 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not True At all, 1 = Somewhat True, 2 = Moderately True, 3 = Very True.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 36. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low dimension score: 0 – 12
- Moderate dimension score: 13 – 24
- High dimension score: 25 – 36
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.