Factorial Structure of the UCLA Loneliness Scale

Abstract

Research on the topic of loneliness has begun to attract scholarly attention. The study reported here examined the dimensions of loneliness tapped by the often used UCLA Loneliness Scale which has previously been reported as a global, unidimensional, measure of the phenomenon. Data from 493 college students were subjected to factor analysis which yielded three factors. These factors were labeled and explained in terms of loneliness regarding Intimate Others, Social Others, and a feeling of a lack of Belonging and Affiliation. Demographic and attribute data were compared for each of the three dimensions. Additional research replicating this study on non-student populations is required to determine the validity of the present results for the general population.