I-LINK: International Loneliness and Isolation research NetworK

The goal of I-LINK is to increase society’s ability through international collaboration to respond to loneliness throughout the life cycle by facilitating the sharing of knowledge and building of connections that will help improve the quality of research, policy, practice and overall understanding of loneliness. The group is chaired by Prof Linda Fried.

• Tackling loneliness and social isolation through connected communities
• A strategy for tackling loneliness and social isolation and building stronger social connections
• Connected communities – Tackling loneliness and social isolation [in Wales]. Consultation ended in January 2019

National Academies: The Health and Medical Dimensions of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults

• Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System
• National Academies: The Health and Medical Dimensions of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults

Other

• A Connected Society: A Strategy for Tackling Loneliness – Laying the Foundations for Change, published October 2018, England
• A Connected Scotland: our strategy for tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections, published in Dec 2018
• A Connected Island. An Ireland Free From Loneliness. A Report from the Loneliness Taskforce. Published in June 2018.
• Campaign to End Loneliness
• Loneliness and ageing: Ireland, North and South
• Loneliness and ageing: Ireland, North and South – Summary Report

Selected presentations: Loneliness in Later Life: Interventions – what works?: 5-7th December 2018, Belfast, Northern Ireland

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) and the Bamford Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing at Ulster University co-hosted an international seminar on loneliness in December 2018.

Day 1

Loneliness – a UK Perspective – what we know, what we think we know and what we don’t know: Prof Christina Victor – Brunel University London: Presentation

Loneliness in Ireland and the Irish Migrants: Prof Gerry Leavey – Ulster University Presentation

Loneliness in the Netherlands: Prof Theo van Tilburg – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: Presentation

Isolation and Loneliness – a US Perspective : Prof Jim Lubben  – Boston College: Presentation

Day 2

Opening address: Eddie Lynch  – Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland: Presentation

The Complexity of Loneliness in Later Life: Addressing the Issues: Prof Vanessa Burholt – Swansea University: Presentation

A national response to loneliness and improving the health and  wellbeing of older and vulnerable adults in Ireland: Sean Moynihan – ALONE: Presentation

A model for addressing loneliness, isolation and improving health and wellbeing among men: Barry Sheridan – Men’s Sheds: Presentation

Loneliness in later life  –  public health responses: Sarah Reid – Public Health Agency: Presentation

The Role of the Health Professional in Loneliness Assessments: Prof Carla Perissinotto – University of California: Presentation

Campaign to end loneliness: learning for research, policy and practice: Fiona Murphy – Campaign to end loneliness: Presentation

Designing a new social infrastructure for 21st century needs: Prof Linda Fried – Columbia University: Presentation

Day 3

A clinical experience of loneliness – reflections on learning: Dr Jeannette Golden – Mercers Institute for Successful Ageing (MISA): Presentation

A public health approach to loneliness?: Prof Thomas Prohaska – George Mason University: Presentation

List of the most common scales for loneliness and isolation

Name of scale	Format e.g.  number of questions /type of questions	Comments	Web link
Loneliness
The UCLA Loneliness scale (Russell, Peplau, Cutrona, 1980; Russell, 1996)	20-items Negative phrasing	Widely used Long	http://bit.ly/381LJeq
ULCA 3-item revised version (Hughes, Waite, Hawkley, & Cacioppo, 2004)	3-items All 3-items negatively phrased.	Brief Widely used Most commonly used format of UCLA	http://bit.ly/35Z8f5O
The De Jong Gierveld 11-item loneliness scale (De Jong Gierveld and Kamphuis 1985)	11-items (subscale…) No direct mention of loneliness. Five positively phrased and six negatively phrased items. Developed to measure the severity of feelings of loneliness.	Assess overall and social and emotional loneliness through subscales Widely used	http://bit.ly/2DQ8rbn
The De Jong Gierveld 6-item loneliness scale (De Jong Gierveld and Van Tilburg 1999; De Jong Gierveld and Van Tilburg 2010)	6-items (subscale) No direct mention of loneliness. Three positively phrase and three negatively phrased items.	Assess overall and social and emotional loneliness through subscales Brief Widely used	http://bit.ly/2DQ8rbn
The Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA) (DiTommaso, Spinner et al. 1993)	37-items	Distinguishes between social and emotional loneliness and further distinguishes two domains of emotional loneliness, (family and romantic). Long Less widely used	http://bit.ly/350xDb6
The Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA) (DiTommaso, Brannen-McNulty et al. 2003) 15-item revised version	15-items	Distinguishes between social and emotional loneliness and further distinguishes two domains of emotional loneliness, (family and romantic) Less widely used	http://bit.ly/2DJ5AB5
The Campaign to End Loneliness Measurement tool (CEL 2015)	3-items Developed particularly for services rather than researchers. No direct mention of loneliness. All questions positively worded.	Short and easy to use Sensitively worded Developed through extensive research and consultation and designed to be as inclusive and widely useful as possible Not yet been as rigorously academically evaluated	http://bit.ly/33QLlfs
Social Isolation
The Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS) (Lubben & Gironda 2003):	12-item and short 6-item version.	Widely used Established validity and reliability	http://bit.ly/2RetIng
The Berkman-Syme Social Network Index (SNI)	(Berkman & Syme 1979) assesses participation in 12 types of social relationships. These include relationships with a spouse, parents, parents-in-law, children, other close family members, close neighbours, friends, workmates, schoolmates, fellow volunteers, members of groups without religious affiliation, and religious groups.	Widely used Established validity and reliability	http://bit.ly/33IGqx6
The Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) –	10 item scale The 35-item Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) measures multiple dimensions of social support		http://bit.ly/34QnHRz
Social Disconnectedness – 8-item scale (Cornwell and Waite, 2009)	Social Disconnectedness – 8-item scale (e.g., small social network, infrequent participation in social activities) (Cornwell and Waite, 2009) authors also include Perceived Isolation Scale);	Acceptable internal consistency demonstrated	http://bit.ly/2DKr40z