This study aimed to draw a parallel between instruments assessing marital quality and the way couples conceptualize their relationship quality. Twenty-five couples were interviewed to understand their ideas about a good quality relationship. The interviews were analyzed according to the topics couples presented, which were then compared with the concepts included in the instruments measuring marital quality. Five themes were identified, partially correspondent to the concepts assessed by the instruments. Cultural differences were found in the American instruments regarding the valuation of some themes to the detriment of others. Research with the Latin American population is necessary to understand its particularities and to develop measures in accordance with these specificities.

Se buscó trazar un paralelo entre instrumentos que evalúan la calidad conyugal y la forma como las parejas conceptuan la calidad de su conyugalidad. Se entrevistó a 25 parejas para conocer lo que consideraban una relación de calidad. Las entrevistas fueron analizadas a partir de las temáticas presentadas por los sujetos y posteriormente se comparó con las variables de los instrumentos más utilizados para medir la calidad conyugal. Se identificó cinco temas que corresponden parcialmente a los conceptos evaluados por los instrumentos. Se han detectado diferencias culturales en los instrumentos estadounidenses en cuanto a la valorización de algunos temas sobre otros. Se propone que se haga más investigaciones con la población latinoamericana para comprender sus particularidades y desarrollar medidas que estén de acuerdo con tales especificidades.

This study aimed to draw a parallel between instruments assessing marital quality and the way couples conceptualize their relationship quality. Twenty-five couples were interviewed to understand their ideas about a good quality relationship. The interviews were analyzed according to the topics couples presented, which were then compared with the concepts included in the instruments measuring marital quality. Five themes were identified, partially correspondent to the concepts assessed by the instruments. Cultural differences were found in the American instruments regarding the valuation of some themes to the detriment of others. Research with the Latin American population is necessary to understand its particularities and to develop measures in accordance with these specificities.