Wellbeing
Loneliness
What is loneliness?
Loneliness is the subjective, painful experience of lacking meaningful relationships. Important: it's not the same as being alone (solitude) β you can be alone and not feel lonely, or be in a crowd and feel deeply lonely.
Why does it matter?
Loneliness is a risk factor for premature death comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad, 2015). Increases risk of depression, dementia, and heart disease.
How is it measured?
UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, 1996) β 20 items, or a short 8-item version.