The Science

Built on 40+ years of peer-reviewed relationship research

The Unified Intimacy Intelligence Assessment synthesizes validated instruments from attachment science, the Gottman Institute, sexual response research, values psychology, and emotional intelligence into a single integrated framework. Every question maps to published research. Every score has a citation.

40+
Years of Research
500K+
Study Participants
82
Countries Validated
500+
Peer-Reviewed Papers

Psychometrically Informed

Every question maps to validated instruments with published Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability, and cross-cultural validation data.

Weighted Scoring

Domain weights reflect clinical importance: Attachment (30%), Communication (25%), Sexual (20%), Values (15%), EI (10%) — based on meta-analytic effect sizes.

Integrated Profile

Unlike siloed assessments, we model cross-domain interactions. Your attachment affects your sexuality, which affects your communication, which affects your values.

Five research domains — with full psychometric data

Click each domain to see the specific instruments, reliability coefficients, validation data, and seminal papers that inform your scores.

Internal Consistencyα = 0.94 (Anxiety), α = 0.94 (Avoidance)
Test-Retest Reliabilityr = 0.93 (Anxiety), r = 0.95 (Avoidance)
Sample Size17,000+ participants across validation studies
Cross-Cultural ValidationValidated in 20+ languages, 50+ countries
Validity TypeConstruct, convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity established
Effect SizeLarge (d = 0.80–1.20 for attachment–relationship satisfaction link)
Key Researchers
John BowlbyMary AinsworthR. Chris FraleyMario MikulincerPhillip Shaver
Seminal Publications

An Item Response Theory Analysis of Self-Report Measures of Adult Attachment

Fraley, R.C., Waller, N.G., & Brennan, K.A. (2000)

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350-365

DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.78.2.350

Reliability and Validity of the Revised ECR-R Self-Report Measure of Adult Romantic Attachment

Sibley, C.G., Fischer, R., & Liu, J.H. (2005)

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31(11), 1524-1536

DOI: 10.1177/0146167205276865

Attachment in Adulthood: Structure, Dynamics, and Change

Mikulincer, M. & Shaver, P.R. (2007)

Guilford Press (Monograph)

Attachment and Loss, Vol. 1: Attachment

Bowlby, J. (1969)

Basic Books (Foundational Text)

Radical transparency: what we know and what we don't

Good science requires honesty about limitations. Here's exactly where the UIIA stands and what we're doing to improve.

What's Established

  • Each domain draws from instruments with α > 0.80 (good to excellent reliability)
  • Attachment and values instruments validated across 50+ and 82 countries respectively
  • Gottman's communication research has 40+ years of longitudinal data
  • All referenced instruments have published convergent and discriminant validity
  • Effect sizes range from medium (d = 0.45) to very large (94% predictive accuracy)
  • Total research base exceeds 500,000 participants across all domains

Current Limitations

  • Self-report measures are subject to social desirability bias
  • Cross-domain interactions (e.g., attachment × sexuality) are modeled but not yet empirically validated as a composite
  • Individual question items are adapted from validated instruments, not identical reproductions
  • Scoring algorithms use weighted heuristics informed by research, not direct psychometric calibration
  • Sample diversity in original studies skews Western, educated, and heteronormative

How this assessment gets better over time

The UIIA is a living instrument. Like the research it's built on, it evolves with new data, new participants, and new scientific findings.

1.1
Q2 2026

Norming study with 1,000+ respondents to establish population benchmarks

1.2
Q3 2026

Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis to optimize question discrimination and difficulty

2.0
Q4 2026

Adaptive testing — questions adjust based on prior answers for higher precision in fewer items

2.1
Q1 2027

Couples comparison module with dyadic scoring and interaction pattern analysis

2.5
Q2 2027

Longitudinal tracking — retake every 90 days to measure growth and pattern shifts

3.0
Q4 2027

AI-enhanced interpretation with natural language processing for open-ended responses

Essential reading

Attached

Amir Levine & Rachel Heller (2010)

Attachment science for adults

Hold Me Tight

Dr. Sue Johnson (2008)

Emotionally Focused Therapy

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

Dr. John Gottman (1999)

Relationship success predictors

Mating in Captivity

Esther Perel (2006)

Desire vs. security paradox

Come As You Are

Emily Nagoski (2015)

Dual Control Model & responsive desire

Polysecure

Jessica Fern (2020)

Attachment in non-monogamy

Attachment in Adulthood

Mikulincer & Shaver (2007)

Definitive academic reference

Emotional Intelligence

Daniel Goleman (1995)

EQ foundations

The Body Keeps the Score

Bessel van der Kolk (2014)

Trauma & somatic healing

Frequently asked questions

Support This Research

The UIIA synthesizes 40+ years of peer-reviewed research into a free-access tool. Your donation helps fund norming studies, adaptive testing development, and keeps this assessment accessible. Every contribution directly supports the next version.

Donate

100% of donations go toward research validation, accessibility, and platform development. Tax-deductible where applicable.

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