UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3)

The UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 (UCLA-LS) is a widely recognized self-report instrument used by clinicians to assess subjective feelings of loneliness…

Questions: 20
Duration: 10 min
Original title: UCLA-LS — UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3)
Adaptation: UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3)
Authors: Russell, D. W.
Created: 1996

The UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 (UCLA-LS) is a widely recognized self-report instrument used by clinicians to assess subjective feelings of loneliness and social disconnection. Unlike objective isolation, which is simply a measure of one's network size, this scale captures the painful discrepancy between the social connection a person wants and what they actually experience.

Because loneliness often drives or maintains other psychological difficulties, having a reliable metric is highly valuable for comprehensive intake assessments. Exploring this painful emotional state helps clinicians identify underlying schemas and unmet emotional needs that might otherwise remain hidden.

Developed by Daniel W. Russell in 1996, this third version simplifies the wording of the original test, making it highly accessible across diverse clinical populations. By providing a repeatable baseline, the UCLA-LS allows clinicians to track fluctuations in relational distress over the course of therapy and gently open the door to understanding loneliness not as a personal failure, but as a valid human signal.

Example result

Fictitious result, computed from a sample set of answers.

Overall score

50/ 80

A 20-item self-report questionnaire assessing the subjective feeling of loneliness and perceived social isolation. Suitable for adolescents and adults to screen for and monitor loneliness, particularly in contexts of depression, social anxiety, life transitions, or aging. Each item explores the frequency of experiences related to social connectedness; nine items are positively worded and reverse-scored.

20–34

Low loneliness

35–49

Moderate loneliness

50–64

Moderately high loneliness

65–80

High loneliness

For information

Cut-off> 43Loneliness

Most commonly used dichotomization threshold in the literature.

Gosling et al. (2024)View the study ↗

Scoring

Sum (with 9 reverse-scored items), total score from 20 to 80, each item is scored on a 4-point scale (from 1 to 4).

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What the test measures

The UCLA-LS is structured as a unidimensional tool that captures a generalized sense of relational deprivation, rather than quantifying physical isolation. It probes the qualitative aspects of a person's social reality through several overlapping facets.

Subjective isolation: The core feeling of being left out, disconnected, or having no one to turn to in times of distress.
Relational superficiality: The perception that existing relationships lack depth, meaning, or genuine mutual understanding.
Social embeddedness: The degree to which the individual feels in tune with those around them or part of a shared community.
Available support: The perceived accessibility of companionship, indicating whether the person believes they can find connection when they actively seek it.

This instrument is intended for use with adolescents and adults who are able to reflect on their usual social experiences.

When and why to use it

Clinicians typically administer the UCLA-LS when a patient presents with persistent low mood, relational difficulties, or significant life transitions. Exploring isolation often reveals how adaptive vs maladaptive coping strategies affect the person's social world.

Intake baseline: To evaluate the severity of subjective isolation during an initial evaluation, particularly when depressive symptoms are prominent.
Formulation building: To shift the clinical focus from surface symptoms to the core relational pain, facilitating deeper loneliness discussion questions in subsequent sessions.
Treatment monitoring: To track changes in perceived connection over time, especially when working on interpersonal skills or testing new behaviors through an assertiveness behavioral experiment.
Differential support: To distinguish between a preference for solitude and genuine distress, clarifying whether the patient is suffering from their aloneness.

Relying on a validated score adds precision to a clinician's general impression, offering a standardized baseline that helps redirect a patient trapped in constructive vs harmful rumination toward actionable therapeutic goals.

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The questions

The following statements describe how people sometimes feel. For each statement, please indicate how often you feel the way described. Answer based on how you usually feel, not just how you feel right at this moment. There are no right or wrong answers.
1. How often do you feel in tune with the people around you?
Assesses the patient's sense of spontaneous harmony and emotional resonance with their immediate social circle.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
2. How often do you feel that you lack companionship?
Probes the direct experience of missing a partner or close friends to share time with.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
3. How often do you feel there is no one you can turn to?
Evaluates the perceived absence of reliable emotional or practical support in times of need.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
4. How often do you feel lonely?
Measures the global, subjective sensation of aloneness, regardless of the actual presence of others.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
5. How often do you feel you are part of a group of friends?
Captures the individual's sense of belonging to an established social network.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
6. How often do you feel you have a lot in common with the people around you?
Assesses the perception of shared values, interests, or identity with the surrounding environment.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
7. How often do you feel that you are no longer close to anyone?
Highlights the painful sensation of losing intimacy or drifting away from past relational bonds.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
8. How often do you feel that your interests and ideas are not shared by those around you?
Probes feelings of intellectual or recreational alienation from one's peers.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
9. How often do you feel outgoing and sociable?
Measures the patient's self-perception of their own sociability and willingness to engage with others.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
10. How often do you feel close to other people?
Evaluates the general capacity to experience emotional proximity and warmth in interactions.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
11. How often do you feel left out?
Captures the experience of passive exclusion or feeling sidelined in social settings.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
12. How often do you feel that your relationships with others are not meaningful?
Assesses the qualitative depth of the patient's social network, highlighting feelings of relational superficiality.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
13. How often do you feel that no one really knows you well?
Probes the sensation of not being seen or understood on a deeply authentic level.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
14. How often do you feel isolated from others?
Measures the acute perception of being cut off or separated from the social world.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
15. How often do you feel you can find companionship when you want it?
Evaluates the patient's confidence in their ability to mobilize social contact when they actively desire it.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
16. How often do you feel there are people who really understand you?
Highlights the perceived presence of genuine empathy and validation in the patient's life.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
17. How often do you feel shy?
Captures the impact of social inhibition or social anxiety on the person's ability to connect.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
18. How often do you feel that people are around you but not with you?
Probes the specific paradox of feeling lonely within a crowd or a physically present group.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
19. How often do you feel there are people you can talk to?
Assesses the availability of casual or deep conversational partners in the patient's daily routine.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always
20. How often do you feel there are people you can turn to?
Measures the certainty of having a safe relational harbor for seeking advice or comfort.
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Always