Adaptation and validation of the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) in the Peruvian context

Abstract This study aimed to adapt and validate the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) for application in the Peruvian context. An instrumental, cross-sectional design was conducted with 367 participants from Lima, Peru. Construct validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test a second-order hierarchical model composed of three first-order dimensions: General Attachment, Person Substitution, and Animal Welfare and Rights. The model demonstrated excellent fit indices (CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.992, RMSEA = 0.051, SRMR = 0.057), supporting a higher-order latent factor of pet attachment. Internal consistency was excellent for the total scale (α = 0.90, ω = 0.92) and adequate for the subdimensions. Additionally, measurement invariance across sex was established at the configural, metric, scalar, and strict levels, confirming that the scale functions equivalently in men and women. These findings indicate that the Peruvian adaptation of the LAPS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing emotional attachment to companion animals.