UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA) Test

Understand how loneliness and social disconnection show up for you in about 4 minutes. Quick 20 item results pinpoint emotional and behavioral patterns to guide next steps in support.

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Questions: 204 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

25,565 views

3,010 completions

2,510 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

35/60

Loneliness Scale (LS)

Measures the overall intensity of subjective loneliness across emotional, cognitive, and behavioral experiences of social connection and isolation.

Low loneliness

High loneliness

0 – 28: Low loneliness | 29 – 60: High loneliness

A score of 35 falls in the High loneliness range, suggesting a relatively pronounced subjective sense of isolation and dissatisfaction with social contacts.

example score

4/9

Perceived Lack of Understanding by Others (PLoUbO)

Measures the extent to which a person feels misunderstood by others and perceives a lack of support, as a cognitive component of loneliness.

Low

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 9: High

A score of 4 falls in the Low range, suggesting occasional or mild feelings of being misunderstood or unsupported rather than a persistent sense of alienation.

example score

14/30

Impaired Social Contacts (ISC)

Assesses behavioral signs of loneliness reflected in isolation, alienation, and reduced social activity that can disrupt social connections.

Lower disruption

Higher disruption

0 – 15: Lower disruption | 16 – 30: Higher disruption

A score of 14 falls in the lower disruption range, suggesting relatively fewer behavioral difficulties with initiating or maintaining social contacts at this time.

example score

9/21

Negative Affect (NA)

Measures the intensity of negative emotional experiences associated with loneliness, such as isolation, rejection, and worthlessness.

Low

High

0 – 9: Low | 10 – 21: High

A score of 9 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively limited negative emotional experiences related to loneliness at this time.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Feeling socially disconnected

41%OF USERS

People who feel left out or isolated take it to understand how strong their loneliness is and what parts of connection feel hardest.

Life transition stress

34%OF USERS

Those going through moves, breakups, starting university, or changing jobs use it to check whether loneliness is increasing during the adjustment.

Clients in counseling

25%OF USERS

People already working with a psychologist or support group take it to track progress and clarify which support strategies to focus on.

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.

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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.

Loneliness Scale (LS)

Average

28.2

Normal range

18.8 — 37.6

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.

Misunderstanding by others (Mbo)

Average

4.5

Normal range

3.3 — 5.7

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.

Disruption of Social Contacts (DoSC)

Average

8.6

Normal range

3.4 — 13.9

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.

Negative Experiences (NE)

Average

7.8

Normal range

4 — 11.6

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.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures perceived loneliness and social isolation. It reflects emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of perceived connection with others.

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

Completion typically takes about 4 minutes. It includes 20 items.

How should items be answered?

Each item should be rated based on how often the statement applies. Responses should reflect typical experience rather than a single unusual day.

Who is this questionnaire appropriate for?

It is used with adolescents, adults, and older adults in clinical, social service, and research settings. It can be administered individually or in groups.

How are results used in practice?

Scores indicate the overall level of perceived loneliness and highlight areas that may need attention. Results should be interpreted with other clinical or contextual information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA) Test - Symptoms and Signs

loneliness social alienation

Loneliness is a clinically relevant indicator of perceived social connection and emotional well-being. The UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA) is a self-report measure designed to assess subjective feelings of loneliness and perceived social isolation. It is commonly used in clinical screening and research contexts to inform case conceptualization and track change over time.

The instrument includes 20 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. Respondents rate statements reflecting perceived social relationships and connectedness, supporting a structured estimate of loneliness severity. The UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA) was developed by Daniel W. Russell and Mary E. Ferguson, and results should be interpreted within the broader clinical context, including mood, anxiety, and interpersonal functioning.

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.; Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2010.; Russell, D. W. UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3): Reliability, validity, and factor structure. Journal of Personality Assessment. 1996.

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