Factor structure of the De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale in Spanish elderly adults

Authors

  • Jose Buz Universidad de Salamanca
  • David Urchaga Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca
  • María E. Polo Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.30.2.148371
Keywords: Loneliness, elderly adults, validity, factorial analysis, collectivism-individualism

Supporting Agencies

  • Dirección General de Universidades e Investigación de la Junta de Castilla y León. Proyecto (S24COA-07J01).

Abstract

Loneliness is an important component in the measurement of subjective well-being of elderly adults. The most influential instrument in Europe is the 11-item de Jong Gierveld loneliness scale (DJGLS; de Jong Gierveld and Kamphuis, 1985). The aim of this study was to examine, throughout factorial techniques, the internal structure the Spanish version of the DJGLS. Data were gathered from 328 community-dwelling elderly adults (M = 75.53, Range: 60-99 years). The factor analysis techniques revealed that the scale was essentially unidimensional (RMR = .088, AGFI = .970, NFI = .966). Reliability was .91. Neither substantive nor statistical reasons were found to consider the existence of a second factor. Our findings also revealed some psychometric problems in the measurement of the social and emotional aspects of loneliness. Emphasis is placed on the need to improve the scale and bear in mind the differences between collectivist and individualist cultures in the use of scales measuring well-being.

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Author Biographies

Jose Buz, Universidad de Salamanca

Dpto. de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación. Prof. T.E.U

David Urchaga, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca

Facultad de Comunicación, Encargado de Cátedra

María E. Polo, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca

Facultad de Comunicación, Profesora Titular
Published
07-04-2014
How to Cite
Buz, J., Urchaga, D., & Polo, M. E. (2014). Factor structure of the De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale in Spanish elderly adults. Anales de Psicología / Annals of Psychology, 30(2), 588–596. https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.30.2.148371
Issue
Vol. 30 No. 2 (2014)
Section
Social and Organizational Psychology

 

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