The UCLA Loneliness Scale And How To Address Loneliness

Loneliness may be a common human experience. Most of us will feel it somewhat now and again, but ongoing feelings of perceived loneliness can have significant negative effects on a person’s overall health and well-being. Because of the high prevalence and profound potential impact of loneliness, there has long been a need for researchers and clinicians to empirically support tools for measuring how lonely a person feels. One of these measures, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, has been used to quantify degrees of loneliness for nearly half a century. Below, we’ll give an overview of how it came to be, how it works, and what you can do if you’re experiencing loneliness.

What is the UCLA Loneliness Scale?

It was first released in 1978 by American psychologist Daniel Russell and colleagues at the University of Los Angeles (UCLA) in response to a lack of valid and reliable tools to measure how lonely a person feels. The original version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale consisted of 20 statements designed to measure a person's subjective feelings of loneliness. Each statement represents a different dimension of this feeling, and those taking the assessment are to indicate how strongly they agree with each one. A few example statements include:

• "I have nobody to talk to."
• "My social relationships are superficial."
• "I feel shut out and excluded by others."
• "It is difficult for me to make friends."

The person taking the assessment can respond to each item by selecting one of four choices that indicate how frequently they relate to the given statement. The choices of the loneliness scale are O (“I often feel this way”), S (“I sometimes feel this way”), R (“I rarely feel this way”), and N (“I never feel this way”).

How is the UCLA Loneliness Scale scored?

When an individual has answered all of the questions on the assessment, their answers are scored. This process entails assigning a different numerical value to each of the four responses, resulting in a total ranging from 20 to 80. 

The higher a person scores, the lonelier they’re likely to be. For example, someone with a score of 60 is likely to feel much more lonely than someone with a score of 30. 

While a higher score on the loneliness scale is not a mental health diagnosis, it may indicate mental health concerns, such as anxiety and depression, in some people.

Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale

Not long after the scale’s release, researchers noticed that the scale correlatedstrongly correlated with assessments that measured concepts other than loneliness—most notably, depression and low self-esteem. While these often co-occur with loneliness, they’re not what the test is designed to measure, so Russel and his team made revisions. In 1980, two years after the release of the original, they released an updated version—the R-UCLA, which included rephrased versions of ten of the questions of the UCLA Loneliness Scale. 

1996 Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale 

In 1996, they released the third and final (to date) version of the test. This revision was undertaken because Russell had previously been testing versions only on college students—a common practice among university researchers, since they can be the easiest population for them to access. However, Russell began to realize that this meant that the test wasn’t necessarily available to or representative of other populations. For example, elderly participants sometimes had trouble understanding the wording of the questions, resulting in decreased reliability of the test. That’s why he and his team released version three, which contained further simplified wording.

The UCLA 3-item loneliness scale

In addition to the 20-item version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale, there is also a simplified version for brief screening purposes. Used widely and adapted to various cultural contexts, the 3-item scale assesses three dimensions of loneliness:

• Relational connectedness
• Social connectedness
• Self-perceived isolation

There is also an 8-item version of the scale. 

Why loneliness matters for mental and physical health

Chronic perceived loneliness has been linked to an increased risk of a variety of health concerns, including heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, anxiety, early mortality, and many others. Having a scientific, reliable way to measure loneliness may allow researchers to gauge levels of this feeling among populations in order to take action to address it. While loneliness is associated with physical and mental health conditions, assessing it early may serve as a preventive measure.

A tool that can measure loneliness independently of other feelings or conditions may also allow researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers to understand the true incidence of loneliness and social isolation. A tool that takes the form of an official questionnaire—like the UCLA Loneliness Scale— might also help reveal people’s feelings, since people may be hesitant to express their true feelings if asked outright, “Are you lonely?” Plus, the tool offers a way to quantify these feelings in a way that a yes/no question does not. 

Can individuals use the UCLA Loneliness Scale?

While it’s more often used for research purposes, you can take the UCLA loneliness scale for free online if you’d like to. It will reveal whether your loneliness levels are low, average, or high based on your responses. If your scores reflect moderate to high levels of loneliness or if you feel lonely and distressed by that, there are actions you can take to try to address the situation.

Who may experience loneliness

Findings from a 2024 Pulse survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that one in eight individuals reported frequent loneliness, and one in five experienced social isolation. The survey suggests that young adults may be more likely to experience loneliness and social isolation, especially those who identify as gender, ethnic, and racial minorities. Other factors, such as low socioeconomic status, disengagement from social activities, and physical location, were also associated with a higher prevalence of reported loneliness. The survey also noted findings from previous studies suggesting that loneliness may be more prevalent among those in rural communities and among older adults. 

The association between loneliness and aging is often attributed to changes in health, fewer social connections, and possible loss of social roles. However, a person may feel lonely regardless of their marriage, family, work, or social group. This may be the case, for instance, when a person experiences loneliness and a lack of connection while being with others.

Using the UCLA Loneliness Scale in real life

While researchers may use the UCLA Loneliness Scale in studies to gauge population health outcomes, the scale may also be useful in real-life scenarios. For instance, a person may take the questionnaire and reflect on the results. Reflection may offer an opportunity to take the next steps to foster mental health and well-being. 

Coping with loneliness and social isolation

The antidote for feelings of loneliness usually involves finding nourishing social connections. However, these connections can take time to cultivate, and they can be difficult for many people to form. Some live in rural areas with little to no one else they might bond with. Some have an illness or a disability that makes it difficult to leave the house and meet new people in person. Others simply find the prospect of socializing with strangers intimidating or difficult. This is common in those who are already experiencing loneliness. Research suggests that loneliness may lead to increased mistrust of others, which can make forging new connections even harder. In many cases, building social connections gradually and fostering well-being and self-esteem along the way may be a viable goal. 

Regardless of your situation, here are some strategies for decreasing loneliness that you might consider.

1. Limit social media use

Social media can bring people together in some ways, but that’s not its only potential. More than one recent study has suggested a link between high social media use and loneliness. Comparing the day-to-day realities of your life with the polished, pristine lives of others often portrayed on social media can make you feel that your social life is inadequate. Plus, time spent on screens may result in less time spent leaving the house and socializing.

Don’t limit chatting with friends via social media 

You don’t need to limit messaging friends just because you’re using social media platforms. Many of the studies about social media use causing loneliness and other negative emotions refer to scrolling through posts or videos. Research regarding people spending time interacting with others online shows that these actions can reduce feelings of loneliness. 

2. Take steps to increase your self-esteem

Some research indicates a correlation between having a negative self-image and feeling lonely, so taking measures to increase your self-esteem could be helpful if you’re experiencing loneliness. You could:

• Practice mindfulness to become aware of self-deprecating, distorted thoughts
• Boost your mood by exercising and eating well 
• Practice forgiving yourself 
• Celebrate your achievements
• Rest when needed

3. Spend time in public spaces

Setting out to find a new friend can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much social experience or haven’t socialized in a while. To get started, you might try simply spending time in public spaces (libraries, parks, coffee shops) to get used to being around others and to engage in casual conversations. This can increase your confidence and expose you to new people gradually and in a more low-stakes way. 

4. Volunteer

Getting involved with a cause you're passionate about can be a great way to organically meet new people, but signing up with that pressure can be overwhelming to some. Instead, you might join a volunteer team simply for the purpose of helping. Over time, you may meet like-minded people you can get close to—but even if not, research suggests that being helpful to others may increase happiness all on its own, which may help combat feelings of loneliness.

5. Connect with a therapist

There are times when professional support may provide needed emotional support. Pursuing therapy can be a helpful strategy for those experiencing loneliness and mental health concerns. First, a trained therapist can offer a nonjudgmental listening ear, which can be invaluable to those who lack someone to talk to. Second, they can help you address any thought patterns or fears that may be holding you back from forming strong social connections. For example, they might help you:

• Sharpen your social skills, 
• Build your self-esteem or confidence
• Address symptoms of social anxiety or another condition you may be experiencing. 

Discuss feelings of loneliness in therapy

Getting support through BetterHelp

Talking to a therapist about loneliness and social isolation can sometimes be challenging. For some people experiencing loneliness, the thought of traveling to attend an in-person therapy appointment may seem daunting or intimidating. For others, locating an in-person provider near them is difficult, or leaving the house regularly for appointments is not feasible. In cases like these, online therapy can represent a viable alternative. With a platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist whom you can meet with via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from the comfort of your home. Research suggests that online therapy can be as effective as in-office sessions in many cases involving social anxiety and other conditions, so you can generally pick whichever method appeals more to you.