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Published on: April 23, 2014
Development and validation of brief measures of workplace loneliness
Izumi Ayase1, Akihito Shimazu2, Masahito Tokita3
1Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Shonan Fujisawa Campus, Kanagawa, Japan.
Objectives:
This study aimed to develop and validate 2 concise measures of workplace loneliness.
Methods:
A 3-item scale for loneliness at work (SLAW-3) and a single-item scale for loneliness at work (SLAW-1) were developed by modifying existing scales for general loneliness. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted of 1228 full-time employees in Japan to test the reliability and validity of these scales. Internal consistency of the SLAW-3 was assessed using Cronbach α coefficient, and the construct validity was examined through correlations with established measures of workplace loneliness, psychological distress, well-being, self-rated health, and workplace social support.
Results:
The SLAW-3 demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach α = .91) and unidimensionality. It correlated positively with established measures of workplace loneliness and psychological distress measures and negatively with well-being and workplace social support measures. The SLAW-1 also demonstrated significant correlation with the SLAW-3 and with psychological indicators such as distress, well-being, self-rated health, and workplace social support.
Conclusions:
The SLAW-3 was found to be a reliable and valid measure of workplace loneliness. The SLAW-1 also demonstrated adequate construct validity, despite its single-item format. Both scales are short and may be effectively used to assess workplace loneliness in large-scale employee surveys or brief screenings.
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