A 6-Item Scale for Overall, Emotional, and Social Loneliness

作者：Jenny de Jong Gierveld, T.G. van Tilburg · 发表于：Research on Aging · 年份：2006 · DOI：10.1177/0164027506289723 · 被引用次数：1496 · 研究领域：Health disparities and outcomes、Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction、Health, psychology, and well-being

Loneliness is an indicator of social well-being and pertains to the feeling of missing an intimate relationship (emotional loneliness) or missing a wider social network (social loneliness). The 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale has proved to be a valid and reliable measurement instrument for overall, emotional, and social loneliness, although its length has sometimes rendered it difficult to use in large surveys. In this study, the authors empirically tested a shortened version of the scale on data from two surveys ( N = 9,448). Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the specification of two latent factors. Congruent validity and the relationship with determinants (partner status, health) proved to be optimal. The 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale is a reliable and valid measurement instrument for overall, emotional, and social loneliness that is suitable for large surveys.