Understanding Love in Couple Relationships: A Scoping Review of Sternberg's Triangular Theory

In recent decades, research on love has expanded considerably, underscoring its relevance for individual well-being and relationship functioning. Despite this growth, conceptualizing and empirically operationalizing love remain challenging. Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love, one of the most influential frameworks in the field, conceptualizes love as comprising three core components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. This scoping review aims to synthesize empirical studies that have applied Sternberg's theory to couple relationships, with the objectives of examining how the theory has been operationalized and of identifying relational variables associated with its components. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 27 studies were included. All employed cross-sectional designs, and most samples were drawn from non-European countries. Overall, findings indicate that Sternberg's theory remains theoretically coherent and empirically supported in the study of conjugal relationships. The three love components were consistently associated with key relational indicators, including relationship satisfaction, relationship seriousness, and sexual satisfaction. However, evidence regarding associations with relationship length and sexual orientation was mixed and inconclusive. This review highlights both the continued relevance of Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love and important gaps in the literature, pointing to directions for future research on love in diverse couple contexts.