Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Stockholm University-led researchers unveil the Valentine’s Scale — a quick, reliable tool to measure relationship satisfaction that could improve your love life and mental health.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, a new scientific tool promises to help couples take the pulse of their romantic relationships. Researchers led by Stockholm University have developed the Valentine’s Scale, a scientifically validated self-test.
This seven-question scale aims to provide a quick and reliable measure of relationship satisfaction, making it an ideal tool for couples looking to improve their emotional bonds.
An Accessible and Efficient Tool
The Valentine’s Scale consists of questions that focus on crucial aspects of a relationship, including emotional closeness, trust and conflict resolution. Notably, it also provides practical tips for exercises that can help strengthen bonds in daily life.
“This scale makes it possible to quickly and efficiently get an idea of how a relationship is doing, without having to go through long and complicated interviews or questionnaires,” corresponding author Per Carlbring, a professor of psychology at Stockholm University, said in a news release. “It can even be used during couples counseling to monitor progress over time.”
Scientific Validation and Reliability
Over 1,300 participants took part in two extensive studies to validate the scale.
The results, published in the journal Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, showed that the Valentine Scale boasts high reliability over time and correlates strongly with other established measures of relationship satisfaction, such as the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and Quality of Dyadic Relationships.
Significant for its accessibility, the Valentine Scale is available online for free, making it a more user-friendly and widely available tool compared to other scales.
“At the same time, it can predict improvements in quality of life and contribute to a reduction in mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, by quickly providing a clear picture of how the relationship is doing and thus enabling early intervention,” Carlbring added.
Encouraging Communication and Reflection
While the Valentine’s Scale is an excellent tool for assessing relationship health, Carlbring stresses that it should be used as a starting point for reflection and communication, not as a definitive verdict on the relationship’s future.
“Do the Valentine’s test as a step to start getting closer to each other on Valentine’s Day,” he added, emphasizing that the results should not be over-interpreted or become a source of stress.
“If the test result raises concerns, it may be a good idea to talk about what lies behind the answers. Relationships are dynamic and affected by many factors. It may be stress, communication difficulties or other life circumstances. By reflecting together, you can find ways forward, whether it’s strengthening the relationship or making other decisions,” Carlbring continued.
Take the Test
Couples interested in assessing their relationship can try the Valentine’s Scale for free online with automatic scoring here. By answering the seven questions, individuals can gain insights into how they feel about their relationship in the present.