title: A short-form measure of loneliness.
abstract: The revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-20) and a four-item short form (ULS-4) are widely used in personality research (Russell, Peplau, & Cutrona, 1980). In an exploratory factor analysis of the ULS-20, we identified eight items that loaded substantially on the first factor. These items were combined to form an alternative short-form measure, the ULS-8. The results of this study indicate that the ULS-8 is reliable, valid, and a better substitute for the ULS-20 than is the ULS-4. Consistent with the previous research, the loneliness measures (ULS-20, ULS-8, ULS-4) were strongly related to socially undesirable personality characteristics, but loneliness was uncorrelated with the six different health-related behaviors (exercise, meal regularity, alcohol use, hard drug use, smoking, and hours of sleep) assessed in this study.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012934:Social Isolation; D013223:Statistics as Topic