# Inheritance and Development of Self-Love: A Measurement Based on Chinese Adults

## TL;DR

This study creates a reliable scale to measure self-love in Chinese adults, revealing its psychological structure and cultural relevance.

## Contribution

The novel Chinese Adult Self-Love Scale (SLS) is developed and validated for measuring self-love in a cultural context.

## Key findings

- A 22-item scale with five indicators was developed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.
- The scale showed good reliability (Cronbach’s α > 0.75) and validity (CFI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.048).
- The study highlights cultural commonalities and differences in the concept of self-love.

## Abstract

Self-love is a fundamental psychological construct cultivated throughout human history. In Confucian culture, it is considered the ultimate Ren, while in ancient Greek thought, it serves as the center from which love radiates. Previous qualitative research identified five dimensions of self-love, but these lacked quantitative validation. This study developed the Chinese Adult Self-Love Scale (SLS) based on prior qualitative findings, constructing an initial item bank of 90 statements. The first study assessed the item relevance and clarity, resulting in a preliminary 68-item scale. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of 456 participants refined it to a 22-item scale with five indicators. The second study, with 929 participants, examined its reliability and validity. Cronbach’s α exceeded 0.75, and the test–retest reliability after six weeks was 0.66. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the scale’s validity (CFI = 0.91, TFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.048). This study highlights self-love’s inheritance and development among Chinese adults, as well as its cross-cultural commonalities. It provides a valid, reliable tool for measuring self-love and offers a theoretical foundation for future cross-cultural research. While limitations exist, the findings suggest promising directions for further exploration.