Can the Short-Form UCLA Loneliness Scale Be Used to Measure Loneliness Among Chinese Older Adults? From Classical...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychometrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Loneliness is a significant public health concern among aging populations.
• Culturally sensitive measures are essential for effective interventions in diverse groups.
• This study evaluated the Short-Form UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8) in Chinese older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the psychometric properties of the ULS-8 in Chinese older adults.
• To determine the suitability of the ULS-8 for measuring loneliness in this demographic.
• To identify necessary modifications for a culturally relevant loneliness scale.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analyses were employed.
• Internal consistency and criterion validity were evaluated.
• Data were collected from 347 Chinese older adults.

Main Results:

• The ULS-8 demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and criterion validity.
• Confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis revealed the ULS-8 is not unidimensional for this population.
• Rasch analysis identified item misfit, suggested combining response categories, and indicated lower endorsement of high loneliness.

Conclusions:

• The ULS-8 requires adaptation for use with Chinese older adults.
• A new, culturally tailored short version of the loneliness scale is recommended.
• Rasch analysis is a valuable tool for scale customization.