Brief Description

The Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale is a widely used psychometric instrument designed to measure subjective feelings of loneliness and social isolation. It consists of 20 statements that assess an individual’s experience of social connection and interpersonal relationships.

Purpose

The scale aims to capture and quantify the internal experience of loneliness, independent of the actual number of social contacts. Its objective is to explore the emotional consequences of social disconnection and support both research and clinical interventions.

Scoring Method

Participants respond to 20 statements using a four-point Likert scale: 1 (Never), 2 (Rarely), 3 (Sometimes), 4 (Often). Some items are negatively worded and require reverse scoring. The sum of all responses yields a total score ranging from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater perceived loneliness.

Validity

The scale demonstrates strong construct and convergent validity, having been correlated with other indicators of psychological well-being and social connection. It has been tested and validated across a variety of cultural and age groups, proving its effectiveness in diverse contexts.

Reliability

The internal consistency of the scale is exceptionally high, with Cronbach’s alpha values exceeding 0.90 in most studies. Test-retest reliability is also satisfactory, making the scale suitable for longitudinal tracking of loneliness.

Data Analysis and Use

Data analysis involves calculating the total score, providing descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation), and exploring correlations with variables related to mental health or social support. Scores can be classified into low, moderate, or high levels of loneliness. The scale is appropriate for research protocols, clinical assessments, and social intervention planning.

References

Russell, D., Peplau, L. A., & Cutrona, C. E. (1980). Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39(3), 472–480.
Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218–227.
Gierveld, J. D. J., & Van Tilburg, T. G. (2006). A 6-item scale for overall, emotional, and social loneliness: Confirmatory tests on survey data. Research on Aging, 28(5), 582–598.