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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

23719 views

2636 completions

2166 likes

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

What You’ll See After You Finish the Test

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.

Practical
Recommendations

Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Detected
Insights

Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Psychologist

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

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.

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 here so you can see where you land.

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 here so you can see where you land.

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 here so you can see where you land.

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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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