A Short Scale for Measuring Loneliness in Large Surveys: Results From Two Population-Based Studies.

TitleA Short Scale for Measuring Loneliness in Large Surveys: Results From Two Population-Based Studies.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsHughes, MElizabeth, Waite, LJ, Hawkley, LC, Cacioppo, JT
JournalRes Aging
Volume26
Issue6
Pagination655-672
Date Published2004
ISSN Number1552-7573
Call Numberpubs_2004_Hughes_etal_RA.pdf
Abstract

Most studies of social relationships in later life focus on the amount of social contact, not on individuals' perceptions of social isolation. However, loneliness is likely to be an important aspect of aging. A major limiting factor in studying loneliness has been the lack of a measure suitable for large-scale social surveys. This article describes a short loneliness scale developed specifically for use on a telephone survey. The scale has three items and a simplified set of response categories but appears to measure overall loneliness quite well. The authors also document the relationship between loneliness and several commonly used measures of objective social isolation. As expected, they find that objective and subjective isolation are related. However, the relationship is relatively modest, indicating that the quantitative and qualitative aspects of social relationships are distinct. This result suggests the importance of studying both dimensions of social relationships in the aging process.

DOI10.1177/0164027504268574
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18504506?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Loneliness/Social Support

Endnote ID

14092

Alternate JournalRes Aging
Citation Key6954
PubMed ID18504506
PubMed Central IDPMC2394670
Grant ListP01 AG018911 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P01 AG018911-020002 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States