Adaptation of the Love Addiction Inventory–Short Form into Turkish: A study of validity and reliability

The purpose of this study is to adapt the Love Addiction Inventory – Short Form (LAI-SF) into Turkish and to examine its psychometric properties, including validity and reliability analyses. In this context, linguistic equivalence, construct validity (EFA and CFA), criterion-related validity, and reliability studies were conducted. The study population consisted of university students at Osmaniye Korkut Ata University during the 2024–2025 academic year who had been in a romantic relationship or married for at least six months. Using purposive sampling, particularly criterion sampling, individuals who reported having experienced a significantly negative event in their relationship were included in the study. Data were collected using convenience sampling within practical constraints of access and time. Three different sample groups were utilized in the research. The first sample (n = 25) was used to test the linguistic equivalence of the original English form and the Turkish version of the scale. The second sample was used to determine the factor structure through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and the third sample was used to test the structure through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and to assess criterion-related validity. The Spann–Fischer Codependency Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were also administered for this purpose. The results of the linguistic equivalence analysis revealed a high, positive, and statistically significant correlation between the English and Turkish versions (r = .88, p < .01). EFA indicated a single-factor structure with factor loadings ranging from .66 to .84. CFA supported this structure, with fit indices showing good model fit (CFI = .995, RMSEA = .034, SRMR = .022). Criterion-related validity analysis showed that LAI-SF scores were positively correlated with relationship dependency and negatively correlated with self-esteem. The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) was calculated as .84, and the test–retest correlation over a four-week interval was .78. Corrected item-total correlations ranged from .52 to .74. These findings demonstrate that the Turkish version of the LAI-SF is a valid, reliable, and applicable measurement tool. The scale can be effectively used in both individual and group counseling practices to assess love addiction levels, particularly among young adults. Keywords: Love addiction, scale adaptation, validity, reliability, construct validity.