UCLA Loneliness Scale
The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russel, Peplau & Ferguson, 1978) is a 20-item scale designed to measure loneliness. Different versions have been created which include a subset of the original 20 items.
Reference
Russel, D., Peplau, L. A., & Ferguson, M. L. (1978). Developing a Measure of Loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 42(3), 290-294. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4203_11
List of questions
Question number | Question | Original 20-item version | 4-item version | GenScot 3-item version |
1 | I am unhappy doing so many things alone. | ✓ |
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2 | I have nobody to talk to. | ✓ |
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3 | I cannot tolerate being so alone. | ✓ |
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4 | I lack companionship. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
5 | I feel as if nobody really understands me. | ✓ |
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6 | I find myself waiting for people to call or write. | ✓ |
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7 | There is no one I can turn to. | ✓ |
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8 | I am no longer close to anyone. | ✓ |
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9 | My interests and ideas are not shared by those around me. | ✓ |
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10 | I feel left out. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
11 | I feel completely alone. | ✓ |
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12 | I am unable to reach out and communicate with those around me. | ✓ |
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13 | My social relationships are superficial. | ✓ |
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14 | I feel starved for company. | ✓ |
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15 | No one really knows me well. | ✓ |
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16 | I feel isolated from others. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
17 | I am unhappy being so withdrawn. | ✓ |
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18 | It is difficult for me to make friends. | ✓ |
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19 | I feel shut out and excluded by others. | ✓ |
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20 | People are around me but not with me. | ✓ |
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Items which are not included in the original version | ||||
21 | How often do you feel lonely? |
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Use of this scale in CLOSER Discovery study questionnaires and datasets