ORIGINAL PAPER
Polish short Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale
1
Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
2
Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland
3
University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
4
Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland
5
School of Business, National Louis University, Nowy Sącz, Poland
6
Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
7
University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2026-06-23
Final revision date: 2026-07-13
Acceptance date: 2026-07-14
Online publication date: 2026-09-24
Corresponding author
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Shortened versions of loneliness measurement scales have been developed in many languages. Due to the considerable inter-est in loneliness among researchers, the aim of the study was to develop a short Polish version of the Revised UCLA Loneli-ness Scale.
Participants and procedure:
Study 1 involved 3477 participants (Mage = 26.10, SD = 8.86; 71.5% female). A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to compare competing single-factor models based on different sets of scale items. Study 2 involved 653 participants (M = 34.56, SD = 12.33; 60.2% female). In this study, Model 7 was verified by means of confirmatory factor analysis.
Results:
Satisfactory global fit and reliability indices were obtained for the shortened, 4-item version of the scale. For this reason, Model 7 can be interpreted as a short, psychometrically stable solution that is well balanced in terms of fit and loading quality.
Conclusions:
Owing to its conciseness and good psychometric properties, the Polish shortened version of the loneliness scale constitutes a reliable and valid measure for assessing loneliness in Polish samples. The Polish short Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale can be considered a reliable instrument for measuring loneliness. From a methodological perspective, short scales are typically designed to capture a general construct rather than its dimensions. The proposed instrument can therefore be used in screening studies.
Shortened versions of loneliness measurement scales have been developed in many languages. Due to the considerable inter-est in loneliness among researchers, the aim of the study was to develop a short Polish version of the Revised UCLA Loneli-ness Scale.
Participants and procedure:
Study 1 involved 3477 participants (Mage = 26.10, SD = 8.86; 71.5% female). A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to compare competing single-factor models based on different sets of scale items. Study 2 involved 653 participants (M = 34.56, SD = 12.33; 60.2% female). In this study, Model 7 was verified by means of confirmatory factor analysis.
Results:
Satisfactory global fit and reliability indices were obtained for the shortened, 4-item version of the scale. For this reason, Model 7 can be interpreted as a short, psychometrically stable solution that is well balanced in terms of fit and loading quality.
Conclusions:
Owing to its conciseness and good psychometric properties, the Polish shortened version of the loneliness scale constitutes a reliable and valid measure for assessing loneliness in Polish samples. The Polish short Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale can be considered a reliable instrument for measuring loneliness. From a methodological perspective, short scales are typically designed to capture a general construct rather than its dimensions. The proposed instrument can therefore be used in screening studies.
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