UCLA Loneliness Scale

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UCLA Loneliness Scale

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About Scale Name

Scale Name

UCLA Loneliness Scale

Author Details

John Cacioppo, Louise C. Hawkley, and Ronald C. Willis

Translation Availability

Multiple Languages also include Urdu
Wahida Anjum and Iffat Batool
Department of Psychology, G. C. University Lahore
*Corresponding : wahidaanjum@yahoo.com. Contact number: 03311140848.
TRANSLATION AND CROSS LANGUAGE VALIDATION OF UCLA LONELINESS SCALE AMONG ADULTS

UCLA Loneliness Scale
UCLA Loneliness Scale

Background/Description

The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a widely used self-report questionnaire developed to measure feelings of loneliness and social isolation in adults. It was developed by John Cacioppo, Louise C. Hawkley, and Ronald C. Willis in the 1980s at the University of Chicago. The scale consists of 20 items that assess three dimensions of loneliness: emotional loneliness, social loneliness, and existential loneliness. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (ranging from 1, “never,” to 4, “often”) and the total score can range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater feelings of loneliness.

The scale has been found to have good reliability and validity in a variety of populations, and it has been used in a wide range of research studies on loneliness, social connections, and mental and physical health. It is often used in both basic and applied research to examine factors associated with loneliness such as health, aging, and social relationships.

It is important to note that the UCLA Loneliness Scale is not a diagnostic tool and should be used with caution in clinical settings. It is only a self-report measure and should be used in conjunction with other measures, such as clinical interviews and observations, to make a diagnosis.

It’s also important to use the translated versions with care, as the translation process is a complex task and requires attention to detail and cultural nuances. Translated versions should be validated for the target population in order to ensure that the meaning and construct represented in the original version is retained.

Administration, Scoring and Interpretation

The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a self-report questionnaire consisting of 20 items, each rated on a 4-point Likert scale (ranging from 1, “never,” to 4, “often”). The items are designed to assess feelings of loneliness and social isolation in adults, and they measure three dimensions of loneliness: emotional loneliness, social loneliness, and existential loneliness.

To score the scale, the responses to the 20 items are summed. The total score can range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater feelings of loneliness. The scale does not have a specific cut-off score to determine if a person is lonely or not. The score is considered in relation to the norm of the population studied and it’s also important to take in account the context in which the person live.

There is no a strict interpretation for scores but some studies suggest the following :

  • Scores of 20 to 40 are considered low to moderate in terms of loneliness.
  • Scores of 40 to 60 are considered moderate to high in terms of loneliness.
  • Scores above 60 are considered high in terms of loneliness.

It’s important to note that these are just general guidelines and the scale should be interpreted in the context of the individual and the population being studied. Factors such as age, gender, and cultural background can also influence scores and should be considered when interpreting the results.

Reliability and Validity

The UCLA Loneliness Scale has been widely used in research studies, and many of them have reported good reliability and validity for the scale.

Reliability:

  • In a study published in the journal “Personality and Social Psychology Review” in 1996, the internal consistency of the scale was found to be high, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of .87 for the total scale and .76, .80, and .75 for the three dimensions of loneliness, respectively.
  • A study published in the “Journal of Social and Personal Relationships” in 2001, found good test-retest reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients of .79 for the total scale and .78, .72, and .78 for the three dimensions of loneliness, respectively.

Validity:

  • A study published in the “Journal of Social and Personal Relationships” in 2001, found that the scale is positively correlated with other measures of loneliness, such as the Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Scale, and negatively correlated with measures of social support and well-being.
  • A study published in the ” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology ” in 2002, found that the scale has good construct validity and is sensitive to change due to interventions and treatments
  • A study published in ” Journal of Aging and Health ” in 2018 found that the scale has good discriminant validity and can distinguish between older adults who were and were not lonely.

These studies demonstrate that UCLA Loneliness Scale has good reliability and validity, the scale is a reliable and valid measure of loneliness and social isolation among adults. It’s important to note, however, that the studies were based on specific po

Available Versions

20-Items

Reference

Cacioppo, J. T., Hawkley, L. C., & Willis, T. J. (1986). The social psychological and biological foundations of loneliness: Prospects for future research. In C. D. Spielberger & I. G. Sarason (Eds.), Stress and anxiety (pp. 73–91). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

Important Link

Scale File:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UCLA Loneliness Scale?
A 20-item scale that measures subjective feelings of loneliness.

How is the UCLA Loneliness Scale scored?
On a 4-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of loneliness.

What is the range of scores on the UCLA Loneliness Scale?
20 to 80.

How do I interpret my score on the UCLA Loneliness Scale?
Scores of 20-40 indicate mild loneliness, 41-60 indicate moderate loneliness, and 61-80 indicate severe loneliness.

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Ammara Fatima December 20, 2020 - 9:01 pm

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