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<p>Loneliness is a key risk factor for youth mental health; however, existing scales often fail to capture its multidimensional and relational nature. This study developed the [blinded] University Loneliness Scale (KULoS) for students in Grades 1–9 and evaluated its psychometric properties using cross-sectional and longitudinal survey data collected in Ishikawa, Japan (Time 1: <i>n</i> = 856; Time 2: <i>n</i> = 709). Exploratory factor analyses conducted separately for grades 1–4 and grades 5–9 supported a two-factor structure primarily reflecting item wording (direct vs. indirect items). The four-item direct subscale (KULoS-D) demonstrated good internal consistency (<i>ω</i> = 0.801–0.862), whereas the indirect subscale (KULoS-I) showed lower reliability (ω = 0.662–0.666). Confirmatory factor analyses at both time points indicated a good fit for the two-factor model. KULoS-D showed strong associations with single-item loneliness and depressive symptoms (<i>r</i>s ≈ 0.50) and moderate correlations with aggressive and prosocial behavior in the expected directions, whereas KULoS-I demonstrated weaker convergent and criterion-related validity. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed that KULoS-D at Time 1 significantly predicted depressive symptoms at Time 2 after controlling for baseline depressive symptoms, whereas KULoS-I did not predict depressive symptoms. Overall, these findings support the KULoS-D as a brief and psychometrically robust measure of loneliness in children and early adolescents, with potential utility for large-scale research and early screening.</p>

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Development and psychometric validation of the Kanazawa University loneliness scale for children and adolescents

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月5日

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  • Yasuo Murayama,
  • Daiki Soma,
  • Masafumi Kameya,
  • Makiko Nishiura,
  • Ai Uemiya,
  • Sanae Tanaka,
  • Minehisa Ueda,
  • Masatsugu Tsujii,
  • Mitsuru Kikuchi

摘要

Loneliness is a key risk factor for youth mental health; however, existing scales often fail to capture its multidimensional and relational nature. This study developed the [blinded] University Loneliness Scale (KULoS) for students in Grades 1–9 and evaluated its psychometric properties using cross-sectional and longitudinal survey data collected in Ishikawa, Japan (Time 1: n = 856; Time 2: n = 709). Exploratory factor analyses conducted separately for grades 1–4 and grades 5–9 supported a two-factor structure primarily reflecting item wording (direct vs. indirect items). The four-item direct subscale (KULoS-D) demonstrated good internal consistency (ω = 0.801–0.862), whereas the indirect subscale (KULoS-I) showed lower reliability (ω = 0.662–0.666). Confirmatory factor analyses at both time points indicated a good fit for the two-factor model. KULoS-D showed strong associations with single-item loneliness and depressive symptoms (rs ≈ 0.50) and moderate correlations with aggressive and prosocial behavior in the expected directions, whereas KULoS-I demonstrated weaker convergent and criterion-related validity. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed that KULoS-D at Time 1 significantly predicted depressive symptoms at Time 2 after controlling for baseline depressive symptoms, whereas KULoS-I did not predict depressive symptoms. Overall, these findings support the KULoS-D as a brief and psychometrically robust measure of loneliness in children and early adolescents, with potential utility for large-scale research and early screening.