A systematic review of loneliness and social isolation scales used in epidemics and pandemics

Aparna Das; Kalpana P. Padala; Christina G. Crawford; Alan Teo; Diana M. Mendez; Olive A. Phillips; Benjamin C. Wright; Samuel House; Prasad R. Padala

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114217

A systematic review of loneliness and social isolation scales used in epidemics and pandemics

Aparna Das, Kalpana P. Padala, Christina G. Crawford, Alan Teo, Diana M. Mendez, Olive A. Phillips, Benjamin C. Wright, Samuel House, Prasad R. Padala

Psychiatry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened social isolation and loneliness. There is a lack of consensus on rating scales to measure these constructs. Our objectives were to identify commonly used loneliness and social isolation scales over the last two decades and test their user characteristics. 7928 articles were searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and APA PsychINFO databases. 41 articles were included based on study criteria. Among fourteen scales reported, UCLA 3-item loneliness scale was found to be most commonly used. The scale is specifically developed for telephone use and is the fastest taking less than a minute for self-administration.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	114217
Journal	Psychiatry Research
Volume	306
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114217
State	Published - Dec 2021

Keywords

Loneliness
Rating scales
Social isolation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychiatry and Mental health
Biological Psychiatry

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10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114217

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title = "A systematic review of loneliness and social isolation scales used in epidemics and pandemics",

abstract = "The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened social isolation and loneliness. There is a lack of consensus on rating scales to measure these constructs. Our objectives were to identify commonly used loneliness and social isolation scales over the last two decades and test their user characteristics. 7928 articles were searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and APA PsychINFO databases. 41 articles were included based on study criteria. Among fourteen scales reported, UCLA 3-item loneliness scale was found to be most commonly used. The scale is specifically developed for telephone use and is the fastest taking less than a minute for self-administration.",

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AU - Das, Aparna

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AU - Crawford, Christina G.

AU - Teo, Alan

AU - Mendez, Diana M.

AU - Phillips, Olive A.

AU - Wright, Benjamin C.

AU - House, Samuel

AU - Padala, Prasad R.

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N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened social isolation and loneliness. There is a lack of consensus on rating scales to measure these constructs. Our objectives were to identify commonly used loneliness and social isolation scales over the last two decades and test their user characteristics. 7928 articles were searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and APA PsychINFO databases. 41 articles were included based on study criteria. Among fourteen scales reported, UCLA 3-item loneliness scale was found to be most commonly used. The scale is specifically developed for telephone use and is the fastest taking less than a minute for self-administration.

AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened social isolation and loneliness. There is a lack of consensus on rating scales to measure these constructs. Our objectives were to identify commonly used loneliness and social isolation scales over the last two decades and test their user characteristics. 7928 articles were searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and APA PsychINFO databases. 41 articles were included based on study criteria. Among fourteen scales reported, UCLA 3-item loneliness scale was found to be most commonly used. The scale is specifically developed for telephone use and is the fastest taking less than a minute for self-administration.

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A systematic review of loneliness and social isolation scales used in epidemics and pandemics

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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