Self-Esteem & Well-Being

Loneliness Inventory (UCLA)

The Loneliness Inventory (commonly based on the UCLA Loneliness Scale) is a 20-question self-report scale assessing the subjective feeling of loneliness arising from a person's social relationships. Because loneliness relates to areas such as depression and social support, it is useful in psychological assessment.

Questions
20
Est. time
~7 min
Delivery
Online · remote
Scoring
Automatic

What does the Loneliness Inventory (UCLA) measure?

  • Subjective loneliness and need for social connection
  • Satisfaction with social relationships
  • Sense of isolation

Who is it for?

Used to assess the level of loneliness in adults.

How is the Loneliness Inventory (UCLA) scored and interpreted?

Questions are scored 0–3; the total ranges from 0 to 60. Higher scores indicate more intense loneliness; screening for comorbid depressive symptoms is recommended.

Score rangeLevelDescription
0–20Low lonelinessFeelings of loneliness are low.
21–40Moderate lonelinessSocial support and relationship patterns should be assessed.
41–60High lonelinessComorbid depressive symptoms should be screened.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions does the loneliness inventory have?

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It has 20 questions, with a total from 0 to 60.

What does a high loneliness score mean?

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It indicates more intense subjective loneliness and is often recommended to be evaluated alongside depressive symptoms.

Does this inventory provide a diagnosis?

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No. This is a screening/assessment tool; it does not provide a clinical diagnosis on its own. Results should be interpreted only by a licensed mental-health professional as part of a clinical evaluation.

Related scales

Source: Russell, D., Peplau, L. A., & Ferguson, M. L. (1978).

This page is informational and does not contain the actual questions. The Loneliness Inventory (UCLA) is a screening/assessment tool and does not provide a diagnosis on its own. Results should be interpreted only by a licensed mental-health professional as part of a clinical evaluation.

Administer the Loneliness Inventory (UCLA) to your clients

With Psikometri, assign this scale remotely via a single link; results are scored automatically and turned into a report. No credit card required.

  • Automatic scoring and severity band
  • One-click, branded PDF reports
  • KVKK-compliant, encrypted and secure