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Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA)

Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA) Test

Pinpoint where loneliness shows up in your romantic, social, and family life in about 7 minutes. A trusted, research-based scale that supports targeted counseling and reliable screening.

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Questions: 377 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

23,726 views

2,654 completions

2,166 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

38/98

Social Loneliness (SL)

Assesses perceived social loneliness, reflecting how connected and supported a person feels within friendships and their broader social network.

Low

High

14 – 46: Low | 47 – 98: High

A score of 38 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively good perceived social connectedness with limited feelings of social isolation.

example score

19/77

Family (F)

Measures the degree of perceived disconnection and lack of emotional support within family relationships.

Low

High

11 – 32: Low | 33 – 77: High

A score of 19 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively little family-related loneliness and generally adequate perceived support or closeness in family relationships.

example score

30/84

Romantic Loneliness (RL)

Measures perceived loneliness and dissatisfaction in the romantic domain, reflecting the availability of close intimate support.

Low

High

12 – 58: Low | 59 – 84: High

A score of 30 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively little romantic loneliness and generally adequate perceived intimacy or support in this area.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Feeling disconnected in life

41%OF USERS

People who feel isolated or misunderstood take it to see whether the gap is mainly romantic, social, or family-related.

In therapy or counseling

34%OF USERS

Clients and their psychologists use it to pinpoint what kind of support is missing and track progress over time.

Researchers and social services

25%OF USERS

Specialists in studies, clinics, or community programs use it to assess loneliness patterns across groups and plan targeted help.

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.

AI-Powered
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

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

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.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

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

48.6

Normal range

37.5 — 59.6

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.

Family (F)

Average

59.3

Normal range

48.2 — 70.5

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.

Romantic (R)

Average

54.4

Normal range

42.6 — 66.2

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.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures loneliness across three domains: romantic, social, and family connection. Scores indicate where perceived closeness and support are limited.

What types of loneliness are assessed?

Romantic loneliness reflects limited partner-based emotional support and intimacy. Social loneliness reflects limited friendships and broader social ties, and family loneliness reflects limited warmth and connection within the family.

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

Completion time is about 7 minutes. The questionnaire includes 37 items.

How should responses be selected?

Each item should be answered based on typical feelings and experiences rather than a single unusual event. All items should be completed to support accurate scoring.

How are results used in practice or research?

Results help identify the specific domain of unmet connection to guide targeted support planning. The format supports both individual assessment and group-based research.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA) Test - Symptoms and Signs

loneliness aging

This self-report measure assesses perceived loneliness across multiple interpersonal domains. The Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA) is designed to differentiate aspects of social connection and emotional closeness.

It consists of 37 items and typically takes about 7 minutes to complete. Respondents rate statements reflecting experiences of romantic, family, and broader social connectedness, supporting domain-specific interpretation of perceived deficits in relationships.

The Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale (SELSA) was developed by Daniel W. Russell and is commonly used in clinical, counseling, and research contexts to characterize loneliness-related concerns and to inform case conceptualization or outcomes monitoring when appropriate.

Author: Daniel W. Russell, letitia-anne-peplau

Literature: Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer. 1984.; DiTommaso, E., Brannen, C., & Best, L. A. Measurement and validity characteristics of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA). Educational and Psychological Measurement. 2004.

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