The gap between the connection you have and the connection you want. Being alone and being lonely are not the same question.
About this test
The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell) treats loneliness as a felt lack of companionship, a sense of being left out, and a thinness of close relationship — not as the number of hours spent alone. Later versions mix negative items with reversed belonging items, because 'I feel isolated' and 'I feel part of a group' are not perfect opposites for everyone. Hawkley and Cacioppo's work links chronic loneliness with health strain. These items are original. Loneliness is painful and common. It is not a diagnosis, and this page includes crisis resources because isolation and hopelessness sometimes travel together.
Question 1 of 11
What this test asks
I go through days without the company of someone who actually knows me.
When something goes wrong, there is no particular person I would call.
I feel left out of the circles where other people seem to belong.
I feel isolated, even if the day was full of small talk.
My relationships are not as close as I want them to be.
I feel in tune with the people around me.
There are people I can talk to about what is actually going on.
There are people I can turn to if I need practical help.
Even inside a group, I can feel starved for real company.
I am unhappy about how withdrawn my life has become.
I feel part of a group of friends.
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