What is it about?
We adapted a simple yet effective tool known as the Three-Item Loneliness Scale to the Portuguese context to measure loneliness among adults. Through a study involving 345 adults, we found this Portuguese version reliable and effective. Our findings indicate that it is a valuable tool for quickly identifying individuals in Portugal who may be experiencing loneliness and could benefit from targeted mental health interventions.
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Why is it important?
Our work adapts the Three-Item Loneliness Scale to the Portuguese cultural and linguistic context, filling a gap in locally relevant mental health assessment tools. We demonstrate its epidemiological utility by studying 345 diverse, community-dwelling adults. Significant findings include good psychometric properties and correlations with established measures of life satisfaction and social networks. This makes the scale an immediately applicable tool for identifying individuals at risk of loneliness in Portugal, informing research and public health interventions.
Perspectives
Completing this paper has been both professionally and personally fulfilling. It aligns closely with my research interests in mental health and aging and offers a practical tool for tackling loneliness in Portugal. I am particularly gratified by its immediate applicability and potential for guiding public health interventions. This work marks an important step in my ongoing goal to contribute meaningful and impactful research in my field.
Prof. Helena Amaral Espírito Santo
Instituto Superior Miguel Torga
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Measuring loneliness: Psychometric properties of the three-item loneliness scale among community-dwelling adults, Heliyon, May 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15948.
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