Scale-Description

UCLA Loneliness Scale [UCLA-20]

Description

The UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-20) is a widely used self-report instrument designed to assess subjective feelings of loneliness and social isolation. It consists of 20 items, including both positively and negatively worded statements to reduce response bias.

Purpose

The scale evaluates an individual’s perceived quality of social relationships, including feelings of companionship, belonging, interpersonal closeness, isolation, and social disconnection.

Scoring

Positively worded items are reverse-scored, while negatively worded items are scored in their original direction. Higher overall scores indicate greater levels of loneliness.

Applications

The UCLA-20 can be used in psychological, social, and health-related research to assess loneliness and explore its associations with social support, well-being, mental health, and quality of life.

Reference

Russell, D. W. (1996). UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3): Reliability, validity, and factor structure. Journal of Personality Assessment, 66(1), 20–40.