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De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS)

De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) Test

In 3 minutes, learn whether loneliness shows up as missing close bonds, low social belonging, or both. With 11 items, it delivers a clear snapshot to guide support, coaching, or care.

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Questions: 113 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

29,996 views

2,496 completions

2,177 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

20/25

Social Loneliness (SL)

This scale measures satisfaction with social interactions and a sense of belonging, where higher scores reflect greater social loneliness.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 8: Low | 9 – 17: Moderate | 18 – 25: High

A score of 20 falls in the High range, suggesting pronounced dissatisfaction with social connections and a stronger sense of social isolation.

example score

12/30

Emotional (E)

Measures the subjective sense of lacking close, emotionally supportive relationships and warmth.

Low

Moderate

High

6 – 8: Low | 9 – 19: Moderate | 20 – 30: High

A score of 12 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting some perceived gaps in emotional closeness and support without being pronounced.

example score

22/55

Loneliness (L)

Measures the overall intensity of perceived loneliness, reflecting both emotional and social aspects.

Low loneliness

Moderate loneliness

High loneliness

11 – 15: Low loneliness | 16 – 35: Moderate loneliness | 36 – 55: High loneliness

A score of 22 falls in the Moderate loneliness range, suggesting a noticeable but not pronounced sense of loneliness.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Feeling alone in a crowd

41%OF USERS

People who have acquaintances or social media contacts but still feel a lack of closeness and emotional warmth.

New city or life change

34%OF USERS

Those adjusting after moving, a breakup, graduation, parenthood, or another transition who want to understand whether the gap is social or emotional.

Students and mental health check

25%OF USERS

Students and adults doing a quick self-check to see how strongly isolation affects their mood, motivation, and daily functioning.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

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Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

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AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Social (S)

Average

11.4

Normal range

8.7 — 14.2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Emotional (E)

Average

20.9

Normal range

17.6 — 24.1

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Loneliness Scale (LS)

Average

37.8

Normal range

29.9 — 45.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures perceived loneliness by separating emotional loneliness from social loneliness. Emotional loneliness reflects missing close, trusting bonds, while social loneliness reflects limited integration and belonging.

How long does it take to complete and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 3 minutes. It includes 11 statements.

How should responses be selected?

Select the response that best matches recent experiences and typical feelings. Avoid overthinking individual items and answer consistently.

How are results interpreted?

Results provide an overall loneliness level and separate scores for emotional and social components. Higher scores indicate greater perceived loneliness in the corresponding domain.

Can this questionnaire be used for screening or clinical support planning?

It can support screening, research, and clinical discussions by identifying whether concerns are mainly emotional or mainly social. Results should be interpreted alongside other clinical information when used in practice.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

loneliness

This self-report measure assesses perceived loneliness as a multidimensional construct, including emotional and social aspects. The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) asks respondents to endorse statements reflecting perceived deficits in close, trusting relationships and in broader social integration.

It contains 11 items and typically requires about 3 minutes to complete. Scores are used to characterize the severity and profile of loneliness and may support clinical screening, treatment planning, or research applications. The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) is commonly cited in the literature; authors noted here include Mary E. Ferguson and Daniel W. Russell.

Author: Daniel W. Russell, letitia-anne-peplau, Mary E. Ferguson

Literature: Cacioppo, J. T., & Patrick, W. Loneliness: Human nature and the need for social connection. W. W. Norton. 2008.; De Jong Gierveld, J., & Kamphuls, F. The development of a Rasch-type loneliness scale. Applied Psychological Measurement. 1985.

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