Relatedness

What it measures

A six-item likert scale designed to measure the degree to which a person feels cared for, with an emphasis on the relationship with a named person.

Response format

7-point Likert (1=strongly disagree, 7=strongly agree)

Scale items

• makes me feel cared about.
• I feel a lot of closeness with __________.
• I feel loved and cared about.
• I often feel a lot of distance from __________. (r)
• I feel like I am in contact with someone who cares for me and who I care for.
• I feel close and connected to a person who is important to me.

Full scale items shown. Always cite the original source when using this scale in research.

Usage notes & scoring

Reported alpha coefficients range from .81 to .89 across samples or studies. Formal validity assessment was not reported by the original authors.

Citation

La Guardia, Jennifer G., Richard M. Ryan, Charles E. Couchman, and Edward L. Deci (2000), "Within-Person Variation in Security of Attachment: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Attachment, Need-Fulfillment and Well-Being," Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79 (September), 367-84.

Keywords