Three-Item Loneliness Scale
A brief self-report measure of loneliness and social isolation adapted from the UCLA Loneliness Scale.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Three-Item Loneliness Scale was developed by Hughes, M. E., Waite, L. J., Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2004). It is designed to measure Loneliness. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 3 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Hardly ever, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = Often, 5 = All of the time.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 3 to 15. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Loneliness: 3 – 5
- Moderate Loneliness: 6 – 10
- High Loneliness: 11 – 15
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 1 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.