Validation of the Short Version (TLS-15) of the Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45) across 37 Languages
Authors: Kowal Marta , Sorokowski Piotr , Dinić Bojana M. , Pisanski Katarzyna , Gjoneska Biljana , Frederick David , Pfuhl Gerit , Milfont Taciano L , Bode Adam , Aguilar Leonardo , García Felipe E. , Villaverde Beatriz Abad , Kavčič Tina , Miroshnik Kirill G. , Ndukaihe Izuchukwu Lawrence Gabriel , Zvončáková Katarína (Šafárová) , Valentova Jaroslava Varella , Aavik Toivo , Blackburn Angelique M. , Çetinkaya Hakan , Duyar Izzet , Guemaz Farida , Ishii Tatsunori , Kačmár Pavol , Natividade Jean Carlos , Nussinson Ravit , Omar-Fauzee Mohd Sofian B. , Pacquing Ma. Criselda T. , Ponnet Koen , Wang Austin Horng-En , Yoo Gyesook , Amin Rizwana , Pirtskhalava Ekaterine , Afhami Reza , Arvanitis Alexios , Duyar Derya Atamturk , Besson Théo , Mahmoud Boussena , Can Seda , Can Ali R. , Carneiro João , Castro Rita , Chubinidze Dimitri , Čunichina Ksenija , Don Yahya , Dural Seda , Etchezahar Edgardo , Fekih-Romdhane feten , Frackowiak Tomasz , Moharrampour Nasim Ghahraman , Yepes Talía Gómez , Grassini Simone , Jovic Marija , Kertechian Sevag K. , Khan Farah , Kobylarek Aleksander , Krizanic Valerija , Lins Samuel Lincoln Bezerra , Mandzyk Tetyana , Manunta Efisio , Dorčić Tamara Martinac , Muthu Kavitha N. , Najmussaqib Arooj , Otterbring Tobias , Park Ju Hee , Pavela Banai Irena , Perun Mariia , Reyes Marc Eric S. , Röer Jan Philipp , Şahin Ayşegül , SAHLI Fatima zahra , Šakan Dušana , Singh Sangeeta , Smojver-Azic Sanja , Söylemez Sinem , Spasovski Ognen , Studzinska Anna , Toplu-Demirtas Ezgi , Urbanek Arkadiusz , Volkodav Tatiana , Wlodarczyk Anna , Yaakob Mohd Faiz Mohd Y. , Yusof Mat Rahimi , Zumárraga-Espinosa Marcos , Zupančič Maja , sternberg robert 
Published: December 2022

Love is a worldwide known phenomenon that affects many aspects of human life, including considering a romantic partner with whom to bond. Thus, developing a reliable and valid measure of love experiences is crucial. One of the most popular tools to test love levels 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 the majority of studies (64%) use a broad variety of shortened versions of the TLS-45. To achieve scientific consensus and improve the reliability, comparability, and generalizability of results across studies, here, we develop a short version of the scale–the TLS-15–which contains 15 items with a 5-point rather than 9-point response scale. 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 provided support for the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural invariance of the TLS-15, which could be used as a measure of love components–separately or jointly as a three-factor measure.