This study aimed to introduce the 14-item motivation for solitude scale short form (MSS-SF) revised by Thomas and Azmitia (Journal of Adolescence, 70(1), 33–42, 2019) and test its psychometric properties in Chinese college students. A sample of 1,084 college students (53.6% males, Mage = 19.70 years, SD = 1.12) were selected as subjects in Shanghai, China. As measurement criteria we used the MSS-SF, Self-awareness Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Life Satisfaction Scale; one year later 379 individuals from the original sample were retested. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the two-factor model of MSS-SF, Self-determined solitude (SDS), and not self-determined solitude (NSDS), had acceptable fit indices. MSS-SF had high internal consistency reliability, split half reliability, and test-retest reliability. The concurrent validity analyses showed that the Chinese version of MSS-SF had satisfactory concurrent and discrimination validities: SDS was significantly positively correlated with self-awareness and life satisfaction, negatively correlated with loneliness and depressive symptomatology; NSDS was significantly positively correlated with public awareness, social anxiety, loneliness, and depressive symptomatology, and negatively correlated with life satisfaction. The results provide preliminary evidence that MSS-SF is reliable and suitable for application with Chinese college students.
