De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS)

The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale is one of the most extensively used brief instruments for measuring loneliness in population surveys, clinical research, and gerontological studies. Developed by Jenny De Jong Gierveld and Fons Kamphuis in 1985, the 11-item scale (with a shorter 6-item version available) measures emotional and social dimensions of loneliness, based on the theory that loneliness arises from a discrepancy between desired and actual social relationships. The DJGLS is valued for its brevity, ease of administration, strong psychometric properties, and widespread availability in 30+ languages.