Development and validation of the Adolescent Social Goal Questionnaire among Chinese adolescents

This study aimed to (ASGQ) to assess social goals among Chinese adolescents. In Study 1, a 45-item pool was developed based on semi-structured interviews ( n = 47, M _age = 13.43, SD = 0.76) and existing measures. Exploratory factor analysis with a sample of 772 adolescents ( M _age = 13.35, SD = 0.67) identified a six-factor structure, comprising intimacy, social preference, popularity, social dominance, self-protection and academic improvement goals. Study 2 ( n = 1297, M _age = 13.54, SD = 1.01) confirmed this structure through confirmatory factor analyses, established strong measurement invariance across gender, and demonstrated good internal consistency, test–retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and criterion related validity. The ASGQ not only provides a psychometrically strong measure but also identifies an academically oriented social goal, highlighting the role of culture in shaping social motivation.