Help! I need somebody: Development and validation of the Romantic Support-Seeking (RoSS) scale

Research has established distinct categories of support-seeking behaviors, including direct, indirect, emotional, and instrumental support-seeking. However, no existing scale incorporates all four types of support-seeking within romantic relationships in one measure. Understanding how individuals seek support from romantic partners is crucial for managing stress, relationship satisfaction, and well-being. We aimed to create and validate the Romantic Support-Seeking (RoSS) scale, grounded in theory and empirical data. In Study 1 (N = 117 students), we used open-ended questions to gain knowledge on support-seeking behaviors and inform item development. In Study 2 (N = 491), we conducted an exploratory factor analysis to assess the factor structure and select the highest-loading items. In Study 3 (N = 355 students), we used confirmatory factor analysis to confirm the factor structure and provide preliminary construct validity evidence by correlating the subscales with measures of attachment, relationship quality, and coping. We identified four reliable subscales: direct emotional support-seeking; direct instrumental support-seeking; indirect support-seeking; and no support wanted. This accounts for each type of support-seeking, and individuals who choose to manage distress alone instead of seeking support. The RoSS is a significant advancement over existing measures because it captures the full spectrum of romantic support-seeking. The samples were predominantly young, White, and female so future work should address whether the scale applies to other demographic groups. This has clinical and research implications for understanding support dynamics in relationships and their links to individual and relational outcomes, which may be used in counselling to help couples navigate distress effectively.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-025-08749-0.