Loneliness Test: See How Connected You Feel, Not Just How Many People Surround You
This loneliness test explores how often you feel disconnected using statements informed by the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Get an instant self-assessment result and an optional PDF report for reflection.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW 
Loneliness Test is a free, confidential 8-question self-assessment, informed by the UCLA Loneliness Scale. It takes about 7 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 4 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
How connected you feel, measured honestly
Loneliness is not about how many people you know. It is the gap between the connection you have and the connection you want. This screening captures that gap with eight balanced statements, some worded toward isolation and some toward belonging, so you can reflect on both the contact you miss and the belonging you experience. Your circumstances and feelings on the day can still influence your answers.
Research-informed items
Eight statements informed by the UCLA Loneliness Scale and its validated short forms. Four point toward isolation and four toward connection, which guards against simply agreeing with everything.
A single frequency score
Each statement is answered by how often it feels true, from never to often, scored 0 to 3. The total runs 0 to 24, where higher reflects more frequent loneliness.
Both sides of connection
The positively worded items about closeness and belonging are reverse-scored internally, so the number reflects the felt distance between the connection you have and the connection you want.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA-informed questions | Sometimes | Yes, faithful to the scale |
| Correct reverse scoring (4 items) | Often wrong | Yes, handled internally |
| Frequency-based response scale | Rarely | Yes, four-point (never to often) |
| Research-based score bands | Rarely shown | Yes, explained clearly |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, clinician reviewed |
| Optional in-depth personalized report | No | Yes, written to your exact scores |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–24 in total. Your result falls into one of 4 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–8 | Low loneliness | Your score falls in the lower range, which suggests you feel reasonably connected right now. That is a real strength worth protecting. |
| 9–14 | Moderate loneliness | Your score falls in the moderate range. You are feeling some genuine distance from others, and it is worth paying attention to rather than pushing past. |
| 15–19 | High loneliness | Your score falls in the high range. You are feeling disconnected much of the time, which can be heavy to carry, and it is also very responsive to support. |
| 20–24 | Very high loneliness | Your score falls in the highest range. You are feeling deeply isolated, and you do not have to sit with that alone. Support can make a real difference. |
How common is this?
The Loneliness Test explores the gap between the connection you want and the connection you feel. A higher result suggests more frequent feelings of disconnection, without diagnosing a mental health condition. Screening questions land differently when you know how many other people are answering them the same way. Our loneliness statistics page collects the current numbers on loneliness in the United States, each one with its source and the year it was measured next to it.
None of those figures say anything about your own result. They are context for it, and a reminder that whatever the score, this is common ground rather than rare territory.
Loneliness, isolation, and solitude: what is different
These three words get used interchangeably, but they describe different things. Social isolation is an objective count, how few people you interact with regularly, and you can be isolated without feeling lonely if that suits you. Solitude is time alone that you choose and often enjoy, which can be restorative rather than painful. Loneliness is the subjective gap this test measures: the distance between the connection you have and the connection you want, and it can show up even in a full house or a busy office. If your loneliness centers on romantic or family closeness rather than friendships generally, our Attachment Style Test looks at the patterns that shape how close you let people get.
Feeling lonely around other people can reflect a need for more trust, understanding, or emotional support within your relationships. Consider whether you have someone you can speak honestly with, whether contact feels welcoming, and whether you receive the kind of support you need. The CDC describes social connection in terms of relationship quality and support as well as the size of a social network.
Who tends to feel loneliest
Loneliness does not track neatly with age or circumstance, but some transitions raise the odds: moving to a new city, starting or leaving a job, becoming a parent, going through a breakup or divorce, and later-life losses like retirement or the death of a spouse all strip away the routine contact that used to happen automatically. Survey research often finds loneliness highest among young adults and much older adults, for different reasons in each group: young adults are frequently rebuilding social networks after school ends, while older adults lose them gradually to retirement, mobility limits, and bereavement. If shyness or a fear of judgment keeps you from reaching out even when you want to, our Social Anxiety Test can help you see whether that is part of the picture, and our Friendship Quiz looks at your patterns as a friend more broadly.
What to do after a loneliness test
Start by identifying the kind of connection you miss: someone to confide in, company during everyday activities, or a sense of belonging in a group. Choose a manageable step that fits that need, such as asking a trusted person to talk or returning to an activity you enjoy. Consider barriers such as transportation, cost, caregiving, or accessibility when deciding what is realistic.
Communication Skills can help you plan how to express a need for company or support. You can also browse the Psychology.com tests hub for related self-assessments. If loneliness persists or low mood makes reaching out difficult, the Psychology.com therapist directory is a place to look for professional support. Your score does not measure your worth or how likable you are.
If reaching out feels difficult, prepare a specific invitation that leaves room for the other person to respond, such as asking whether they would like to talk or share an activity. If an invitation does not work out, consider timing and practical obstacles before treating it as evidence about your worth. For a professional conversation, bring examples of when you feel most disconnected and what makes connection easier.
Methodology & sources
The eight statements are informed by the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, 1996) and its validated short forms, including the eight-item ULS-8 (Hays and DiMatteo). Four items are worded toward isolation and four toward connection; the connection items are reverse-scored so that a higher total always reflects more frequent loneliness. Each item is answered on a four-point frequency scale (never, rarely, sometimes, often) scored 0 to 3, giving a total from 0 to 24. This adaptation is designed for readability and self-reflection rather than as the full 20-item research instrument.
This screening is provided for education and self-reflection. Loneliness is a common human experience that shifts with circumstances, life stage, and support, so the result is best read as a starting point rather than a fixed trait. Because persistent loneliness is linked with low mood and other health outcomes, the interpretation leads gently toward connection and, where useful, professional support.
This page uses its own adapted statements and reflection bands. It is not the original ULS-8, and validation findings for the published UCLA instruments do not establish the accuracy of this version. Scores from different loneliness questionnaires should not be compared directly. Consider your result alongside the relationships, practical barriers, and life changes that affect your opportunities for connection.
References
- Russell DW. UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3): Reliability, validity, and factor structure. J Pers Assess. 1996;66(1):20-40.
- Hughes ME, Waite LJ, Hawkley LC, Cacioppo JT. A short scale for measuring loneliness in large surveys. Res Aging. 2004;26(6):655-672.
- Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, et al. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015;10(2):227-237.
- Hays RD, DiMatteo MR. A short-form measure of loneliness. J Pers Assess. 1987;51(1):69-81. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3572711/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Social Connection. cdc.gov/social-connectedness/about/index.html
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 16). Loneliness Test. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/loneliness
Loneliness Test FAQ
What is the UCLA Loneliness Scale?
It is the most widely used research measure of loneliness, developed by Daniel Russell and colleagues and refined into Version 3 in 1996. It asks how often you feel disconnected from others rather than how many people you know. This test is informed by that scale and its short forms, and it is a screening tool for reflection, not a diagnosis.
What score counts as high loneliness?
On this 0 to 24 adaptation, roughly 0 to 8 suggests low loneliness, 9 to 14 moderate, 15 to 19 high, and 20 to 24 very high. Because the ULS-8 has no single canonical cutoff, we derived these bands as descriptive reflection ranges for this adapted questionnaire, so they are guides for reflection, not strict clinical thresholds.
Is feeling lonely a mental illness?
No. Loneliness is a normal, near-universal human experience, not a disorder. That said, when it is frequent and persistent it often travels with depression and anxiety and can affect physical health, which is why ongoing loneliness is worth taking seriously and, if it helps, talking through with a professional.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. Only a licensed clinician can assess depression, anxiety, or any related condition. If your result concerns you or your mood has been low, consider speaking with a therapist. You can ask for support regardless of where your score falls, especially if disconnection is affecting daily life.
Can loneliness actually change?
Loneliness can change as relationships, opportunities for contact, and support change. A manageable starting point is to identify the connection you miss and seek a setting where it can develop through repeated contact. Practical obstacles deserve attention too. If low mood or fear of judgment makes this difficult, a clinician can help you explore support suited to your circumstances without promising a particular outcome.
Is the test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your individual answers are scored in your browser and are never sent to us or linked to you. They stay in this tab so you can return to your result, and closing or clearing the tab clears them. If you ask us to email the PDF, we receive your summary scores with your email address, never your individual answers. No account is needed.
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