Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Psychometric and Rash Analysis of the UCLA Loneliness Scale-16 in a Portuguese Sample of Older Adults

  • Assessment
  • Published:
Psychological Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Loneliness is a serious concern in modern societies, particularly among older adults, while being imperative that clinicians use reliable instruments for an accurate assessment of this problem. This study aims to describe a mixed statistical approach to assess the psychometric properties of the UCLA Loneliness Scale-16 in Portuguese old-aged individuals. The sample comprised 153 individuals (59.1% women and 40.3% men), aged 61–98 (M = 78.80, SD = 8.58). The psychometric properties of UCLA Loneliness Scale-16 were analyzed with exploratory factorial analysis, internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity and through the item response theory. The results suggested a bidimensional structure for this instrument. The scale showed satisfactory psychometric properties with a high internal consistency. In addition, a negative relationship with constructs of social support and functionality was also observed. Overall results suggest that the UCLA Loneliness Scale-16 is a psychometric reliable measure to evaluate social loneliness in the Portuguese elderly population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrich, D. (1988). Rasch models for measurement. London: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo, F., Pais-Ribeiro, J., Oliveira, A., Pinto, C., & Martins, T. (2008). Validação da escala de Lawton e Brody numa amostra de idosos não institucionalizados. In I. Leal., J. Pais Ribeiro., I. Silva., & S. Marques (Eds.), Actas do 7º congresso nacional de psicologia da saúde (pp. 217–220). Lisboa: ISPA (The validation of the Lawton and Brody scale in a sample of non-institutionalized elderly).

  • Asher, S. R., & Paquette, J. A. (2003). Loneliness and peer relations in childhood. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12, 75–78. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.01233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brito, R., Gamito, P., Oliveira, J., & Morais, D. (unpublished). Portuguese version of Practitioner Assessment of Network Type (PANT).

  • Carvalho, S., Gouveia, J., Pimentel, O., Maia, D., & Pereira, J. (2011). Caracteristicas psicométricas da versão portuguesa da escala multidimensional de suporte social percebido (Multidimensional scale of perceived social support—MSPP). Psychologica, 54, 338–348. (Psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y., Hicks, A., & While, A. E. (2003). Loneliness and social support of older people in China: A systematic literature review. Health and Social Care Community, 22(2), 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12051.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freitas, S., Alves, L., Simões, M. R., & Santana, I. (2013). Importância do rastreio cognitivo na população idosa. Revista E-Psi, 3(1), 4–24. (Importance of cognitive screening in the elderly population).

    Google Scholar 

  • Freitas, S., Simões, M. R., Alves, L., & Santana, I. (2011). Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA): Normative study for the Portuguese population. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 33(9), 989–996.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gale, C. R., Westbury, L., & Cooper, C. (2018). Social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for the progression of frailty: the english longitudinal study of aging. Age and Ageing, 3, 392–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerino, E., Rollè, L., Sechi, C., & Brustia, P. (2017). Loneliness, resilience, mental health, and quality of life in old age: A structural equation model. Frontiers of Psychology, 8, 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hays, R. D., & DiMatteo, M. R. (1987). A short-form measure of loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 51, 69–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Instituto Nacional de Estatística. (2017). Projeções de População Residente 2015–2080. Destaque – informação à comunidade social, (pp. 1–19). https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=277695619&DESTAQUESmodo=2&xlang=pt. (Projections of Resident Population).

  • Lawton, M. P., & Brody, E. M. (1969). Assessment of older people: Self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. Gerontologist, 9, 179–186.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linacre, J. M. (2002). Optimizing rating scale category effectiveness. Journal of Applied Measurement, 3(1), 85–106.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, B., & Floud, S. (2017). Unraveling the associations between social isolation, loneliness, and mortality. The Lancet, 2(6), 248–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendieta, I. H., Martin, M. A., & Jacinto, L. G. (2012). The relationship between social support, loneliness, and subjective well-being in a spanish sample from a multidimensional perspective. Social Indicators Research, 114, 1013–1034. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-012-0187-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neto, F. (1989). Avaliacão da solidão. Psicologia Clínica, 2, 65–79. (Assessment of solitude).

    Google Scholar 

  • Neto, F. (1992). Loneliness among Portuguese adolescents. Social Behavior Personality, 20, 15–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neto, F. (2002). Loneliness and acculturation among adolescents from immigrant families in Portugal. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 630–647.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neto, F. (2006). Dimensions and correlates of social axioms among a Portuguese sample. Individual Differences Research, 4, 340–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neto, F. (2014). Psychometric analysis of the UCLA loneliness scale (ULS-6) in older adults. Europe Journal of Ageing.. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-014-0312-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pocinho, M., Farate, C., & Dias, A. D. (2010). Validacão psicométrica da escala UCLA—Loneliness para Idosos Portugueses. Interações, 18, 65–77. (Psychological validation of the UCLA scale—loneliness for Portuguese elderly).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rokach, A., & Neto, F. (2005). Age, culture, and the antecedents of loneliness. Social Behavior Personality, 33, 477–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, D. (1996). The UCLA loneliness scale (Version 3): Reliability, validity, and fator structure. Journal of Personality Assessment, 66, 20–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, D., Peplau, L., & Cutrona, C. (1980). The revised UCLA loneliness scale: concurrent and discriminate validity evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 472–480.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, D., Peplau, L., & Ferguson, M. (1978). Developing a measure of loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 42, 290–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, L., Figueiredo, D., & Cerqueira, M. (2006). Envelhecer em Família. Porto: Âmbar. (Aging in Family).

  • Sousa, R. D., Rodrigues, A. M., Gregório, M. J., Branco, J. C., Gouveia, M. J., Canhão, H., & Dias. S. S. (2017). Anxiety and depression in the Portuguese older adults: Prevalence and associated factors. Frontiers in Medicine, 4, 196. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2017.00196.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Urbina, S. (2004). Essentials of behavioral science series. Essentials of psychological testing. Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, R. S. (1973). Loneliness: The experience of emotional and social isolation. Cambridge, MA, US: The MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenger, G. C. (1991). A network typology: From theory to practice. Journal of Aging Studies, 5, 147–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/0890-4065(91)90003-B.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, M. (2005). Constructing measures. Mahwah: LEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, B. D. & Mok, M. (2004). An overview of the family of Rasch measurement models. In E. V. Smith & R. M. Smith (Eds.), Introduction to Rasch measurement. JAM Press, Maple Grove.

  • Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N., Zimet, S., & Farley, G. (1988). The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52, 610–617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Vida, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024, Lisbon, Portugal

    Bruno Faustino, Paulo Lopes, Jorge Oliveira, Giulia Campaioli, Maria Rondinone, Helena Bomfim & Lindanuza Germano

  2. Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Bruno Faustino

Authors
  1. Bruno Faustino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paulo Lopes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jorge Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Giulia Campaioli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Maria Rondinone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Helena Bomfim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Lindanuza Germano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruno Faustino.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

The work presented in this manuscript was the result of an original research.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Faustino, B., Lopes, P., Oliveira, J. et al. Psychometric and Rash Analysis of the UCLA Loneliness Scale-16 in a Portuguese Sample of Older Adults. Psychol Stud 64, 140–146 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-019-00483-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-019-00483-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation