Free Loneliness Test
Assess feelings of loneliness and social connection with this screening.
Loneliness Screening (UCLA)
Question 1 of 8
Based on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, this screening measures feelings of social isolation.
How often do you feel that you lack companionship?
Understanding
Understanding Loneliness
Loneliness is the subjective feeling of being isolated or disconnected from others, even when surrounded by people. It's different from being alone—you can feel lonely in a crowd or content when by yourself. Chronic loneliness is a significant public health concern, linked to increased risk of depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and reduced immune function.
Research shows that prolonged loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. In the UK, approximately 5% of adults report feeling lonely often or always, with rates higher among young adults (16-24) and older adults (75+). The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased loneliness across all age groups.
Important: This free loneliness test is based on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, a validated measure of social isolation and connectedness. While loneliness can feel overwhelming, therapy can help you understand barriers to connection, develop social skills, and build meaningful relationships.
Types & Causes
Types and Causes of Loneliness
Social Loneliness
Lacking a wider social network or friend group. May result from life transitions, moving locations, or social anxiety.
Emotional Loneliness
Absence of a close emotional attachment or intimate relationship. Feeling that no one truly understands you.
Existential Loneliness
Fundamental sense of separateness from others, feeling deeply misunderstood or different.
Transient Loneliness
Brief feelings of loneliness that come and go, often situational and temporary.
Chronic Loneliness
Persistent loneliness lasting months or years, despite efforts to connect. May stem from deeper issues like trauma, low self-esteem, or social difficulties.
Treatment
How Therapy Can Help with Loneliness
Therapy addresses the underlying factors contributing to loneliness and helps you build meaningful connections:
CBT for Loneliness
CBT helps challenge negative thoughts about yourself and others, reduce avoidance of social situations, and develop confidence in building connections. You'll learn practical skills for initiating and maintaining relationships.
Learn about loneliness therapyAttachment & Relationship Work
Attachment-focused therapy explores how early relationship experiences affect current patterns. Schema therapy and psychodynamic approaches can help you understand and change relationship patterns.
Learn about attachment therapyResources
Loneliness Support Resources
Your Score
Understanding Your Score
Your total score gives a quick estimate of severity. Higher scores suggest symptoms are more frequent and more likely to affect daily life, sleep, work, or relationships.
Your responses suggest you feel socially connected and supported.
Recommended next step: Continue nurturing your relationships
Your responses suggest some feelings of loneliness or disconnection.
Recommended next step: Reach out to old friends or family
Your responses suggest significant feelings of loneliness affecting your wellbeing.
Recommended next step: Therapy can help address underlying barriers
Your responses suggest severe loneliness that may be impacting your mental health.
Recommended next step: Please consider speaking with a therapist
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Loneliness Testing
Frequently Asked Questions About Loneliness Testing
Is this loneliness test clinically validated?
Yes. This page uses items based on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, one of the most widely used and validated measures of social isolation and connectedness.
What does the loneliness test measure?
It measures feelings of lacking companionship, being left out, isolation, and the sense that people around you don't truly know you — even when others are present.
Can loneliness affect my health?
Yes. Research shows chronic loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and is linked to increased risk of depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease.
What score suggests I should get help?
A score in the significant or severe range suggests therapy could help. Even moderate loneliness matters if it's affecting your wellbeing or daily life.
What therapy works for loneliness?
CBT can help challenge negative thoughts about yourself and others, reduce social avoidance, and build confidence in forming connections. Attachment-focused therapy can address deeper relationship patterns.
Is loneliness the same as being alone?
No. Loneliness is the subjective feeling of disconnection — you can feel lonely in a crowd or content when alone. It's about the quality of connections, not the quantity.
Important
When to Seek Help
If your score is in the significant or severe range, or loneliness is affecting your mental health, professional support can help. You don't have to face this alone.
If loneliness is accompanied by thoughts of self-harm, seek urgent help through your GP, NHS 111, or Samaritans on 116 123.
You Don't Have to Feel Lonely
Our therapists specialise in helping people overcome loneliness, build confidence in social situations, and develop meaningful connections. Therapy can help you understand and change patterns keeping you isolated.