The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale is a clinical calculator used to measure feelings of loneliness in adults, particularly in the elderly population. This scale is widely used in research and clinical settings to assess both emotional and social loneliness. The scale consists of 6 items. The higher scores indicate greater levels of loneliness.
The clinical utility of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale lies in its ability to provide a quantitative measure of loneliness, which can be useful in identifying individuals who may be at risk for associated health problems, such as depression or cardiovascular disease. It can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing loneliness.
There are no specific exclusion criteria for the use of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. However, it may not be suitable for use in individuals with cognitive impairment or severe mental health disorders, as they may have difficulty understanding or accurately responding to the scale's items.
Reference
Jenny De Jong Gierveld, Theo Van Tilburg. A 6-Item Scale for Overall, Emotional, and Social Loneliness: Confirmatory Tests on Survey Data. Res Aging. 2006 Sep.
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