How (Not) to Measure Loneliness: A Review of the Eight Most Commonly Used Scales

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 19(17), P. 10816 - 10816

Published: Aug. 30, 2022

Loneliness affects well-being and has long-term negative impacts on physical mental health, educational outcomes, employability. Because of those current impacts, loneliness is a significant issue for which we need reliable appropriate measurement scales. In the paper, psychometric properties eight most commonly used scales are reviewed both descriptively meta-analytically. Results suggest that many scales, promising. However, some features, especially test-retest reliability invariance, evidence rather scarce. Most striking, however, fact all included items do not measure loneliness. Surprisingly, (sub)scales, this was even case about half items. our measures foundation research work, it crucial to improve way being measured.

Language: Английский

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Addressing loneliness and social isolation in 52 countries: a scoping review of National policies

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: May 1, 2024

Abstract Background Even prior to the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, there was ample evidence that loneliness and social isolation negatively impacted physical mental health, employability, are a financial burden on state. In response, has been significant policy-level attention tackling loneliness. The objective this scoping review conduct policy landscape analysis across 52 countries UN European country groups. Our sought highlight commonalities differences between different national approaches manage loneliness, with goal provide actionable recommendations for consideration policymakers wishing develop, expand or existing policies. Methods We searched governmental websites using Google search engine publicly available documents related isolation. Seventy-eight were identified in total, from which 23 retained. Exclusion based predetermined criteria. A structured content approach used capture key information documents. Contextual data captured configuration matrix common unique themes. Results could show most policies describe as phenomenon addressed varying degrees domains such social, geographical, economic political. Limited found regarding funding suggested interventions. synthesised makers focusing use language, prioritisation interventions, revisiting previous campaigns, sharing best practice borders, setting out vision, evaluating need rapid sustainable scalability Conclusions study provides first overview landscape, highlighting increasing major public health societal issue. findings suggest can sustain momentum strengthen their strategies by incorporating rigorous, evidence-based intervention evaluations fostering international collaborations knowledge sharing. believe more effectively address directing funds develop implement interventions impact individual, community society.

Language: Английский

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Exploring the Frequency, Intensity, and Duration of Loneliness: A Latent Class Analysis of Data from the BBC Loneliness Experiment

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 18(22), P. 12027 - 12027

Published: Nov. 16, 2021

Almost all measures of loneliness have been developed without discussing how to best conceptualize and assess the severity loneliness. In current study, we adapted four-item UCLA, so that it continued measure frequency loneliness, but also assessed intensity duration, providing a other aspects severity. Using data from participants resident in UK who completed BBC Loneliness Experiment (N = 36,767; F 69.6%) Latent Class Profile Analyses, identified four groups people scored high on at least one three measures. Duration often over months or years seemed be particularly important distinguishing groups. Further, group membership was predicted by demographic psychological variables. We discuss findings terms implications for research practice. highlight need explore these profiles longitudinally investigate predicts later mental physical health, well-being.

Language: Английский

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Romancing With Pain: A Survey Study of Young Adults With Chronic Pain

Pain Management Nursing, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Loneliness among dementia caregivers: evaluation of the psychometric properties and cutoff score of the Three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale

Frontiers in Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: April 7, 2025

Introduction Dementia is a chronic progressive syndrome, with an entire loss of function in the late stages. The care this demanding condition primarily provided by family members, who often suffer from burnout, distress, and loneliness. This instrumental study aimed to examine factor structure, reliability, convergent validity, criterion cutoff scores short loneliness measure: Three-Item version University California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale (UCLALS3) convenience sample dementia caregivers (N = 571, mean age 53 ±12 years, 81.6% females). Methods Exploratory confirmatory analyses were used structure UCLALS3 while receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, including caregiving burden emotional distress as outcomes, was its cutoff. Results One accounted for 79.0% variance UCLALS3; it perfectly invariant across genders but variant at metric level countries. scale had adequate internal consistency (alpha 0.87), high item-total correlations (0.69 – 0.79), reduced alpha if item deleted (0.77 0.86), strong positive psychological (r 0.57 & 0.74, p values 0.01). Percentile ROC curve suggested two cutoffs (≥6 ≥6.5), which classified 59.3 59.4% participants having higher levels loneliness—comparable global among informal caregivers. Mann-Whitney test revealed significantly scoring ≥6.5 on UCLALS3. Conclusion valid scale; may flag major clinically relevant symptoms caregivers, highlighting need tailored interventions that boost caregivers’ individual perception social relationships. More investigations are needed confirm invariance

Language: Английский

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Estimating Local Structural Equation Models

Journal of Intelligence, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(9), P. 175 - 175

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Local structural equation models (LSEM) are that study model parameters as a function of moderator. This article reviews and extends LSEM estimation methods discusses the implementation in R package sirt. In previous studies, was fitted sequence separately evaluated each value moderator variables. this article, joint approach is proposed simultaneous method across all values also allows some to be invariant with respect Moreover, sufficient details on main functions sirt provided. The practical demonstrated using illustrative datasets an empirical example. two simulation studies investigate statistical properties parameter significance testing LSEM.

Language: Английский

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Psychometric properties of the variants of the Chinese UCLA Loneliness Scales and their associations with mental health in adolescents

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Oct. 21, 2024

Language: Английский

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Measuring loneliness: a head-to-head psychometric comparison of the 3- and 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scales

Psychological Medicine, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 54(14), P. 3821 - 3827

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Abstract Background Despite the growing interest in prevalence and consequences of loneliness, way it is measured still raises a number questions. In particular, few studies have directly compared psychometric properties very short measures loneliness to standard measures. Methods We conducted large epidemiological study midwife students ( n = 1742) performed head-to-head comparison (20 items) version (3 UCLA Loneliness Scales (UCLA-LS). All participants completed UCLA-LS-20, UCLA-LS-3, as well other mental health, including anxiety depression. Results First, predicted, we found that two scales were strongly associated with each other. Second, when using dimensional scores scales, showed internal reliability, convergent-, discriminant-, known-groups validities high similar magnitude between UCLA-LS-20 UCLA-LS-3. Third, dichotomized, results more mixed. The sensitivity and/or specificity UCLA-LS-3 against systematically below acceptable thresholds, regardless dichotomizing process used. addition, was strikingly variable function cut-offs Conclusions Overall, provided an adequate measure UCLA-LS-20. On hand, able highlight marked differences their which has important for estimating, example, loneliness.

Language: Английский

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Pathways from Men’s Shed engagement to wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and lower loneliness

Health Promotion International, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(4)

Published: Aug. 1, 2023

Extensive qualitative evidence, but limited quantitative indicates that mutual aid organizations such as Men's Sheds have positive impacts on wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and loneliness. A recently developed theoretical model proposes may these via mediating factors broadening social networks, increasing behavioural activation physical activity, reducing alcohol use, providing meaning in life. The aim this study was to quantitatively test a whereby psychological safety (feeling safe, accepted, valued) is associated with Shed engagement (frequency attendance, duration membership, diversity activities), which the hypothesized mediators, which, turn, are members (N = 333, Mage 70.90 years, SD 10.34, 98% male) completed survey assessing model. path provided an excellent fit data. Findings indicated higher engagement, larger networks more were wellbeing lower Higher less use also wellbeing. not or directly Implications for optimizing health outcomes within discussed.

Language: Английский

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Perspectives on interpersonal touch are related to subjective sleep quality

Journal of Sleep Research, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(3)

Published: Nov. 9, 2022

Summary Affective touch has been reported for its calming effects; however, it is less clear whether associated with sleep. Here, the relationship between different variables and self‐reported sleep indicators was investigated. Data were extracted from Touch Test, a cross‐sectional survey conducted in 2020. sample of 15,049 healthy adults UK (mean age = 56.13, SD 13.8; 75.4% female) analysed. Participants asked to attribute positive, negative, or no effects on hugs, strokes, massages, intimate touch, onset without touch. The time since last intentional amount satisfaction, childhood bed routine hugs kisses assessed. Sleep quality, duration, latency, wake after diurnal preference measured. analysed using chi‐square tests logistic regressions. before perceived have positive recency emerged as significant predictor some variables, longer timespan relating improved shorter fewer instances waking up participants. Experiencing too much related lower quality higher onset. These findings highlight importance interpersonal subjective quality.

Language: Английский

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