Reliability and validity of the 6-item UCLA Loneliness Scale(ULS-6)for application in adults / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the psychometric properties and applicability of the 6-item University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale (ULS-6) in adults.@*METHODS@#We conducted 2 surveys to assess the validity of different measurement scales and questionnaires. In Survey 1, a total of 1480 adults were measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and the data were used for item analysis and assessment of the reliability, validity and measurement invariance. In Survey 2, UCLA Loneliness Scale was used for measurement in 652 college students, and the data were used for analysis of the criterion validity of ULS-6; 3 weeks later, 300 of the students were retested using ULS-6 to assess the retest reliability of the scale.@*RESULTS@#Item analysis suggested that the items in ULS-6 all had good discrimination power with discrimination indexes all above 0.775 (r=0.775-0.820, P < 0.001). Measuring only one dimension, ULS-6 had an internal consistency reliability of 0.891, a split-half reliability of 0.875, and a retest reliability of 0.726. The correlation coefficients of ULS-6 with ULS, ULS-8, PHQ-9 and PSSS were 0.882, 0.967, 0.528 and -0.532, respectively. The measurement invariances of ULS-6 across genders and age groups were all acceptable. Among the adult participants, the mean total score of ULS-6 was 12.97 ± 3.96; While only 20% of the adults had no loneliness, 80% of them exhibited varying degrees of loneliness, ranging from mild (39.6%) and moderate (25.7%) to intense (14.7%) feelings of loneliness.@*CONCLUSION@#The ULS-6 has good reliability, validity and applicability for measurement of loneliness in Chinese adults.

Physical activity and physical fitness according to loneliness levels in adults 50+ / Caraterização da atividade física e aptidão física de acordo com os níveis de solidão em adultos 50+

Loneliness is a perception of dissatisfaction that seems to be the result of a lack of significant re-lationships, with multiple potential causal factors. The current body of research is not conclusive in relation to the link between loneliness and physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) in adults and seniors. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to characterize PA and PF according to levels of loneliness (Social Isolation versus Affinities). The 62 Portuguese individuals (64.68 ± 6.85 years; 68% women) were assessed for loneliness (University of California Los Angeles 16-item Loneliness Scale - UCLA-16). and classified in Social Isolation or Affinities, i.e., presence of significant social rela-tionships. PA was estimated using a questionnaire (International PA Questionnaire - Short Version - IPAQ-SV ) and PF was evaluated using the Senior Fitness Test (upper and lower body strength, upper and lower body flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, agility and dynamic balance). Descriptive statistics were used. The comparison between groups was performed using parametric (t-test, AN-COVA adjusted to sex and chi-square) and non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney). The prevalence of social isolation was 53%. The individuals of the Affinities group spent more minutes per day on moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than the individuals of the Social Isolation group (0.00 [0.00 ­ 12.86] versus 11.43 [0.00 ­ 17.14] minutes, respectively; p = 0.041). After adjusting for sex, the differences were no longer significant. Loneliness groups were not different in relation to PF. PA appears to contribute to a better mental profile in adults and seniors. The results should be confirmed through studies with larger samples

A solidão é uma percepção de insatisfação que parece resultar da carência de relacionamentos significativos, sendo múltiplos os seus potenciais fatores causais. A atual evidência não é robusta no que diz respeito à associação da solidão com a atividade física (AF) e aptidão física (ApF) em adultos 50+. O objetivo deste estudo transversal é caracterizar a AF e ApF de acordo com a solidão. Os 62 indivíduos portugueses (64,68 ± 6,85 anos; 68% mulheres) foram avaliados para solidão (Escala de Solidão de 16 itens da Universidade da Califórnia em Los Angeles - UCLA-16) e classificados como Isolamento Social ou Afinidades, i.e., presença de relações socias significativas. A AF foi estimada por questionário (Questionário Internacional de AF - Versão Curta - IPAQ-SV ) e a ApF medida pela bateria Senior Fitness Test (força de membros superiores e inferiores, flexibilidade de membros superiores e membros inferiores, aptidão cardiorrespiratória e agilidade e equilíbrio dinâmico. Foram utilizadas estatísticas descritivas. A comparação entre grupos foi realizada através de testes paramétricos (teste-t, ANCOVA ajustada ao sexo e qui-quadrado) e não paramétricos (Mann-Whitney). A prevalência de isolamento social foi de 53%. O grupo Afinidades apresentou mais AF moderada a vigorosa comparativamente ao grupo Isolamento Social (11,43 [0,00 ­ 17,14] vs (0,00 [0,00 ­ 12,86], respetivamente; p = 0,041). Após ajuste para o sexo, as diferenças deixaram de ser significativas. Os grupos de solidão não foram diferentes relativamente à ApF. A AF parece contribuir para um melhor perfil mental de adultos e idosos, contudo, os resultados devem ser confirmados em estudos com amostras maiores

Investigando a incidência de solidão em um grupo de idosos portugueses / Investigating the incidence of loneliness in a group of Portuguese older persons / Investigando la incidencia de la soledad en un grupo de portugueses de la tercera edad

Na esteira da alteração dos padrões demográficos, a velhice marca de modo sem precedentes a sociedade contemporânea. Ser idoso tem sido largamente descrito na literatura como uma experiência de solidão, sentimento de caráter multifacetado que se origina na insatisfação com as relações interpessoais. Este trabalho foca a associação entre tal estado psíquico e o envelhecimento, e mensura a incidência deste sentimento em uma amostra composta por 64 idosos que participaram do projeto Bem Envelhecer, da Rede Europeia Anti-Pobreza (EAPN/Portugal). Privilegia-se neste estudo a relação entre as variadas dimensões da solidão e o cruzamento da mesma com diversas variáveis. Para tanto, fora aplicado um inquérito com questões sociodemográficas e a escala SELSA-S (Short Version of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults). Os resultados apontam para a preponderância entre os participantes da pesquisa dos vínculos familiares, em detrimento dos sociais e românticos, e o período etário de 60 a 70 anos como particularmente vulnerável à emergência da solidão.

In the wake of changes to demographic patterns, old age affects contemporary society in an unprecedented manner. Being an elder has been broadly described in the literature as a solitary experience, a multifaceted feeling that is determined by dissatisfaction with interpersonal relationships. This study seeks to evaluate the scale of the different dimensions of this phenomenon (family, social, romantic) in the group of elders who participated in the project Successful Aging of the European Antipoverty Network - Portugal. We intend to further study the association between the sociodemographic characteristics of the target-population and the diverse dimensions of loneliness. To this end, a questionnaire containing socio-demographic questions and the SELSA-S scale (Short Version of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults) was applied on a group of 64 older persons. The results indicate a greater vulnerability of the 'younger' older persons to loneliness and the preponderance of the family dimension of loneliness when compared with the social and romantic dimensions of this phenomenon.

Como consecuencia de cambios en los patrones demográficos, la vejez marca de modo sin precedentes la sociedad contemporánea. El ser anciano ha sido ampliamente descrito en la literatura como una experiencia de soledad, sentimiento de carácter multifacético que se origina en la insatisfacción con las relaciones interpersonales. Este trabajo enfoca la asociación entre tal estado psíquico y el envejecimiento, midiendo la incidencia de este sentimiento en una muestra compuesta por 64 portugueses de la tercera edad. Se privilegia en este estudio la relación entre las variadas dimensiones de la soledad y el cruce de la misma con diversas variables. Para ello, se aplicó una encuesta con cuestiones sociodemográficas y la escala SELSA-S (Short Version of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults). Los resultados apuntan a la preponderancia entre los participantes de la investigación a los vínculos familiares, en detrimento de los sociales y románticos, y el período de edad de 60 a 70 años como particularmente vulnerable a la emergencia de la soledad.

Influencing Factors of Aloneness among Middle-aged and Elderly / 中国医科大学学报

Objective To understand the current status of aloneness and analyze the influencing factors,and to provide reference to improve the aloneness among middle?aged and elderly. Methods A total of 994 middle?aged and elderly in Donggang sampled by stratified random sampling method were investigated by UCLA scale. The influencing factors were assessed by t?test and one?way ANOVA. The data were analyzed by SPSS 16.0. Results The average score of UCLA scale among middle?aged and elderly was 41.54 ± 8.91. The results indicated whether living with their children,alcohol drinking,quality of sleep,history of trauma,psychological counseling,monthly income,chronic disease and physical training were the influencing factors of aloneness among middle?aged and elderly,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion The aloneness was obvious among middle?aged and elderly in China. Health interventions and effective social support should be provided to improve the physiological,psychological and economic levels that will lead to important influence on the improvement of aloneness among middle?aged and elder?ly in China.