Disconnection from social others: a RULS Loneliness Short Scale

This study aimed to develop a brief, psychometrically sound scale for assessing loneliness.

A total of 39 unidimensional models derived from the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS) were evaluated. In the first study, robust fit indices and construct reliability (CR) were analysed for all the models via data from 329, 525, and 623 Argentine participants. A five-item model emerged with consistently good fit and high reliability. In the second study, the five-item instrument was administered to a new sample of 870 Argentine participants, and its associations with relevant psychological variables were analysed.

The five-item scale demonstrated a good robust fit (scaled χ²(5) = 2.41, ns; robust CFI = 1.000; robust SRMR = .004) and high reliability (CR = .893). Furthermore, the expected associations were confirmed, with inverse relationships found between the new scale and various dimensions of well-being and direct relationships with negative emotional states.

The new instrument, named Desconexión de Otros Sociales de la RULS (DOS-RULS), effectively captures the critical loneliness factor of lacking a supportive social network. It showed good model fit, high reliability, and meaningful associations with relevant psychological constructs, supporting its utility as a brief, robust measure of a crucial aspect of loneliness. In the context of the ongoing replication crisis, replication was achieved.