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 A. , Pfuhl Gerit , Milfont Taciano L. , Bode Adam , Aguilar Leonardo , García Felipe E. , Roberts S. Craig , Abad-Villaverde Beatriz , Kavčič Tina , Miroshnik Kirill G. , Ndukaihe Izuchukwu L. G. , Šafárová Katarína , Valentova Jaroslava V. , Aavik Toivo , Blackburn Angélique M. , Çetinkaya Hakan , Duyar Izzet , Guemaz Farida , Ishii Tatsunori , Kačmár Pavol , Natividade Jean C. , Nussinson Ravit , Omar-Fauzee Mohd Sofian B. , Pacquing Ma. Criselda T. , Ponnet Koen , Wang Austin H. , Yoo Gyesook , Amin Rizwana , Pirtskhalava Ekaterine , Afhami Reza , Arvanitis Alexios , Duyar Derya Atamturk , Besson Théo , Boussena Mahmoud , 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 Kevin S. , Khan Farah , Kobylarek Aleksander , Križanić Valerija , Lins Samuel , Mandzyk Tetyana , Manunta Efisio , Martinac Dorčić Tamara , Muthu Kavitha N. , Najmussaqib Arooj , Otterbring Tobias , Park Ju Hee , Pavela Banai Irena , Perun Mariia , Reyes Marc Eric S. , Röer Jan P. , 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 J. 
Published: October 2023

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.