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Tags: Psychology , Psychometrics
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Loneliness is a subjective feeling of being disconnected from other people, and a structured score helps turn that feeling into something you can track and discuss.

The scale used here captures how often certain thoughts and situations show up in daily life over the past month. It turns twenty quick choices into one total score with a plain band that signals where you stand right now.

You read each statement and choose Never, Rarely, Sometimes, or Often. Your selections produce a total and two helpful subscores that reflect isolation and the strength of social connection. For example, if you often feel left out and rarely feel understood, the total will rise and the band may move from moderate to high.

Results are most useful when answers are honest and use a consistent time window. Try to answer in one sitting without interruptions, and consider repeating the scale later to see change.

This tool provides informational estimates and does not substitute professional advice.

Technical Details:

The instrument is the UCLA Loneliness Scale, 20‑item form (ULS‑20). It measures perceived loneliness by aggregating item responses on a four‑point Likert scale. Ten items express isolation and ten express connection; connection items are reverse coded so that higher totals always indicate greater perceived loneliness. Results describe a snapshot, not a diagnosis.

The computation converts each raw response into a scored value, sums those values for a total, and also reports two subscores. The isolation subscore adds the ten items that directly reflect isolation. The connection subscore adds the ten reverse‑coded items that reflect connection signals.

Four severity bands are used to interpret the total: Low, Moderate, High, and Very High. Crossing from one band to the next suggests a meaningful change in perceived loneliness; values near a boundary should be read with care and compared over time rather than in isolation.

siraw ∈ {1,2,3,4} R = {1,4,5,6,9,10,13,14,17,20} xiscored = { siraw if i∉R 5−siraw if i∈R } T = ∑i=1 20  xiscored I = sum of xiscored for {2,3,7,8,11,12,15,16,18,19} C = sum of xiscored for {1,4,5,6,9,10,13,14,17,20}
Symbol Meaning Unit/Datatype Source
si Raw response for item i (Never to Often mapped to 1 to 4) integer 1–4 Input
xi Scored response after optional reverse coding integer 1–4 Derived
T Total score across 20 items points (20–80) Derived
I Isolation subscore points (0–40) Derived
C Connection subscore (reverse coded) points (0–40) Derived

Worked example. If you answer Sometimes (3) to all items, reverse‑coded items become 2 and others remain 3:

T = 10×2+10×3=50

A total of 50 falls in the High band.

Severity band Lower bound Upper bound Interpretation Action cue
Low 20 34 Connected overall Maintain regular contact
Moderate 35 49 Mixed signals Add small weekly interactions
High 50 64 Frequent lonely feelings Plan routine social practice
Very High 65 80 Persistent lonely feelings Consider professional support

Subscores I and C are labeled along quartiles: low, mild, moderate, high. Comparing the two highlights whether isolation feelings exceed connection signals or vice versa; small differences suggest a balanced pattern.

Units, precision, and rounding

Totals use points with a dot as the decimal separator when needed. The displayed average per item is rounded to two decimals using the standard JavaScript fixed‑point method.

Validation and bounds

Field Type Min Max Step/Pattern Error text
Item response Integer 1 4 Step 1 (radio options) Not applicable
Encoded responses (r) String 20 chars 20 chars Regex ^[1-4\-]{20}$ Invalid codes are ignored

I/O formats

Input Accepted families Output Encoding/precision Rounding
20 item choices Four options mapped to 1–4 Total, band, subscores, average Points; average with two decimals Fixed‑point two decimals
Answer review On‑page table Copy or download CSV, export DOCX Labels and values per item Not applicable

Networking and storage

Processing is browser‑based. No assessment data are sent to a server. A short responses code can appear in the address bar; invalid codes are ignored and never stored.

Diagnostics and determinism

Given the same set of responses, the total, band, subscores, and average are identical on every run. The chart resizes with the window.

Assumptions & limitations

  • Represents a recent month and may not reflect long term patterns.
  • Answers reflect perception and can vary with mood and context.
  • Reverse coding assumes the listed ten items reflect connection.
  • Band cutoffs are fixed and do not adapt to population norms.
  • A small change near a boundary may not signal a meaningful shift.
  • Subscores use equal weights and simple quartile labels.
  • Average per item is a summary and may hide item‑level extremes.
  • Heads‑up Valid patterns do not imply clinical status or treatment need.

Edge cases & error sources

  • Skipped items delay scoring until all 20 are answered.
  • All answers identical can still yield mid or high totals.
  • Reverse‑coded items answered Often can raise the total sharply.
  • Out‑of‑pattern responses may reflect misread items.
  • Average rounding to two decimals can mask tiny changes.
  • Corrupted response code in the URL is ignored silently.
  • Blocking third‑party resources may prevent the gauge from rendering.
  • Rapid resizing can briefly delay chart layout.
  • Using different time windows makes runs hard to compare.
  • Shared devices can expose answers on screen to other users.

Privacy & compliance

No data are transmitted or stored server‑side. Handle results with care and follow local privacy guidance for health‑related information.

Step‑by‑Step Guide:

Loneliness scoring with interpretation and exports.

  1. Read each statement and answer for the past month.
  2. Pick one option per item: Never, Rarely, Sometimes, or Often.
  3. Review the total and the severity band.
  4. Scan isolation and connection subscores for balance.
  5. Copy or download your answers, or export a DOCX summary.
  6. Repeat later using the same time window to compare change.

Example. Finishing all items returns a total such as 42 with a Moderate band and subscores like Isolation 19 and Connection 23.

Use the band and subscores to choose small next steps.

FAQ:

Is my data stored?

No. Processing happens on your device. A short responses code may appear in the address bar and is ignored if invalid.

Sensitive results should not be shared without consent.
How accurate is this score?

It reflects your answers and the fixed scoring and bands shown above. It is a snapshot for discussion, not a diagnosis or treatment plan.

Compare repeated runs to detect clearer trends.
What does a borderline result mean?

Values near a cutoff can shift with small answer changes. Recheck later using the same time window and look at subscores for direction.

Can I use it offline?

Yes, once the page is loaded. Scoring is local and does not require a network connection to compute totals or bands.

How are responses scored?

Ten items are reverse coded so higher totals always mean greater perceived loneliness. The total is the sum of all scored items.

Can I export my answers?

Yes. You can copy answers to the clipboard, download a CSV file, or export a DOCX summary that includes totals and subscores.

What are the subscores?

Isolation adds ten direct items. Connection adds ten reverse‑coded items. Each runs from 0 to 40 and is labeled low to high by quartiles.

Troubleshooting:

  • No score yet: one or more items are unanswered.
  • Band looks off: check reversed connection items and reread statements.
  • Chart missing: content blockers can prevent the gauge from drawing.
  • Copy did nothing: clipboard access may be blocked by browser settings.
  • CSV opens oddly: open in a plain text editor to confirm commas and lines.
  • DOCX export disabled: finish all items before exporting.

Advanced Tips:

  • Keep the same past month window each time for comparability.
  • Scan the three highest scored items to spot key drivers to address first.
  • Look for two or three lowest scored items to identify strengths to build on.
  • Track the average per item to judge small improvements over time.
  • If isolation exceeds connection by several points, add gentle social exposure.
  • If connection trails isolation slightly, deepen a few trusted relationships.

Glossary:

Likert scale
A fixed set of ordered options from Never to Often.
Reverse coding
Transforming a response so higher means more of the measured construct.
Total score
Sum of all scored items across the scale.
Severity band
A labeled range that groups totals for interpretation.
Isolation subscore
Sum of ten items that directly reflect isolation feelings.
Connection subscore
Sum of ten reverse‑coded items that reflect social connection.
Average per item
Total divided by 20, rounded to two decimals.