Validation of the Short Version (TLS-15) of the Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45) Across 37 Languages

Authors

Marta Kowal, University of Wrocław
Piotr Sorokowski, University of Wrocław
Bojana M. Dinić, University of Novi Sad
Katarzyna Pisanski, University of Wrocław
Biljana Gjoneska, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
David A. Frederick, Chapman UniversityFollow
Gerit Pfuhl, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Taciano L. Milfont, University of Waikato
Adam Bode, The Australian National University
Leonardo Aguilar, Central University of Venezuela
Felipe E. García, Universidad de Concepción
S. Craig Roberts, University of Wrocław
Beatriz Abad-Villaverde, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña
Tina Kavčič, University of Ljubljana
Kirill G. Miroshnik, Saint Petersburg State University
Izuchukwu L. G. Ndukaihe, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike
Katarína Šafárová, Czech Academy of Sciences
Jaroslava V. Valentova, University of São Paulo
Toivo Aavik, University of Tartu
Angélique M. Blackburn, Texas A&M International University
Hakan Çetinkaya, Yasar University
Izzet Duyar, Istanbul University
Farida Guemaz, Univerity of Setif
Tatsunori Ishii, Japan Womens’ University
Pavol Kačmár, University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik in Košice
Jean C. Natividade, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
Ravit Nussinson, University of Haifa
Mohd Sofian B. Omar-Fauzee, Universiti Utara Malaysia
Ma. Criselda T. Pacquing, University of Santo Tomas
Koen Ponnet, imec-mict-Ghent University
Austin H. Wang, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Gyesook Yoo, Kyung Hee University
Rizwana Amin, Bahria University
Ekaterine Pirtskhalava, King's College London
Reza Afhami, Tarbiat Modares University
Alexios Arvanitis, University of Crete
Derya Atamturk Duyar, Istanbul University
Théo Besson, Université Paris Cité
Mahmoud Boussena, Univerity of Setif
Seda Can, Izmir University of Economics
Ali R. Can, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University
João Carneiro, University of Porto
Rita Castro, University of Porto
Dimitri Chubinidze, University of Georgia
Ksenija Čunichina, Vilnius University
Yahya B. Don, Universiti Utara Malaysia
Seda Dural, Izmir University of Economics
Edgardo Etchezahar, University of Buenos Aires
Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Razi Hospital
Tomasz Frackowiak, University of Wrocław
Nasim Ghahraman Moharrampour, University of Melbourne
Talia Gomez Yepes, University of Buenos Aires
Simone Grassini, University of Stavanger
Marija Jovic, University of Belgrade
Kevin S. Kertechian, École supérieure des sciences commerciales d'Angers
Farah Khan, Women University Mardan
Aleksander Kobylarek, University of Wrocław
Valerija Križanić, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek
Samuel Lins, University of Porto
Tetyana Mandzyk, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
Efisio Manunta, Université De Toulouse
Tamara Martinac Dorčić, University of Rijeka
Kavitha N. Muthu, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
Arooj Najmussaqib, National University of Modern Languages
Tobias Otterbring, University of Agder
Ju Hee Park, Yonsei University
Irena Pavela Banai, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek
Mariia Perun, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
Marc Eric S. Reyes, University of Santo Tomas
Jan P. Röer, Witten/Herdecke University
Ayşegül Şahin, İstanbul University
Fatima Zahra Sahli, University of Mohammed V
Dušana Šakan, Union University
Sangeeta Singh, University of Agder
Sanja Smojver-Azic, University of Rijeka
Sinem Söylemez, Manisa Celal Bayar University
Ognen Spasovski, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava
Anna Studzinska, Icam
Ezgi Toplu-Demirtaş, Mef University
Arkadiusz Urbanek, University of Wrocław
Tatiana Volkodov, Kuban State University
Anna Wlodarczyk, Universidad Católica Del Norte
Mohd Faiz Mohd Y. Yaakob, Universiti Utara Malaysia
Mat Rahimi Yusof, Universiti Utara Malaysia
Lindsay Zumwalt, Chapman University
Marcos Zumárraga‑Espinosa, Salesian Polytechnic University
Kelly Zupan, Chapman University
Maja Zupančič, University of Ljubljana
Robert J. Sternberg, Cornell University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-26-2023

Abstract

Love is a phenomenon that occurs across the world and affects many aspects of human life, including the choice of, and process of bonding with, a romantic partner. Thus, developing a reliable and valid measure of love experiences is crucial. One of the most popular tools to quantify love is Sternberg’s 45-item Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45), which measures three love components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. However, our literature review reveals that most studies (64%) use a broad variety of shortened versions of the TLS-45. Here, aiming to achieve scientific consensus and improve the reliability, comparability, and generalizability of results across studies, we developed a short version of the scale—the TLS-15—comprised of 15 items with 5-point, rather than 9-point, response scales. In Study 1 (N = 7,332), we re-analyzed secondary data from a large-scale multinational study that validated the original TLS-45 to establish whether the scale could be truncated. In Study 2 (N = 307), we provided evidence for the three-factor structure of the TLS-15 and its reliability. Study 3 (N = 413) confirmed convergent validity and test–retest stability of the TLS-15. Study 4 (N = 60,311) presented a large-scale validation across 37 linguistic versions of the TLS-15 on a cross-cultural sample spanning every continent of the globe. The overall results provide support for the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural invariance of the TLS-15, which can be used as a measure of love components—either separately or jointly as a three-factor measure.

Comments

This article was originally published in Archives of Sexual Behavior in 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02702-7

Recommended Citation

Kowal, M., Sorokowski, P., Dinić, B.M. et al. Validation of the Short Version (TLS-15) of the Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45) across 37 Languages. Arch Sex Behav (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02702-7

Copyright

The authors

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.