UCLA Loneliness Scale – Version 3

What it measures

The standard measure of subjective loneliness, capturing distress from perceived deficits in social relationships. Half the items are positively worded to reduce acquiescence bias. Validated across student, elderly, and clinical populations.

Response format

Likert (1–4, never to always)

Representative items

• How often do you feel that you lack companionship?
• How often do you feel left out?
• How often do you feel that you are a part of a group of friends? (R)
• How often do you feel that your relationships with others are not meaningful?
• How often do you feel isolated from others?

Usage notes & scoring

Public domain — freely available. Higher total scores = greater loneliness. 3-item short form available (Hughes et al., 2004).

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Russell, D.W. (1996). UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3): Reliability, validity, and factor structure. Journal of Personality Assessment, 66(1), 20–40.

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