Development of the attitudes about romance and mate selection scale

Abstract

The 32-item Attitudes About Romance and Mate Selection Scale (ARMSS) was developed to measure constraining beliefs about mate selection. Using factor analysis, seven factors were identified roughly corresponding to Larson's (1992) constraining beliefs about mate selection. The final instrument consisted of four distractor items to help disguise the nature of the instrument plus 28 items on seven subscales: (a) One and Only, (b) Love Is Enough, (c) Cohabitation, (d) Complete Assurance, (e) Idealization, (f) Ease of Effort, and (g) Opposites Complement. Reliability and validity evidence was demonstrated. Results showed few gender differences in the degree to which constraining beliefs about mate selection are held by single young adults. However, significant differences were found when age, religious affiliation, and ethnicity were considered, Implications for using the ARMSS in premarital counseling and education are discussed.