Learning through romantic experiences: Development and validation of a new measure

This research introduces the Romantic Relationship-Induced Learning Scale (RRILS), designed to measure personal growth, learning, and positive change stemming from romantic and intimate experiences among adults. The RRILS was developed using a triangulation approach, beginning with qualitative responses to generate thematic domains and an item pool, followed by expert validation. This 15-item measure identified three core dimensions of romantic relationship-induced learning: Self-Change, Relational Competence, and Partner Decision Making. Participants from Slovakia took part in two studies and were divided into three subsamples. In the two young adult samples (YA1: n = 392, M age = 22.55, SD = 2.55; YA2: n = 393, M age = 22.64, SD = 2.85), a combined total of 785 individuals participated, of whom 82% identified as women, 16% as men, and 2% as another gender or preferred not to respond. The general population sample included 456 adults ( M age = 38.46, SD = 13.61), with 52% identifying as women, 47% as men, and 2% as another or missing. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure and demonstrated good internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the model’s fit, confirming the scale’s structural validity. Convergent validity was assessed through correlations with theoretically related constructs, supporting the instrument’s psychometric soundness, and divergent validity, indicating that the instrument measures a distinct concept. The RRILS provides a linguistically and culturally appropriate tool for capturing how adults learn and grow through romantic experiences.