Faustino, BrunoLopes, PauloOliveira, JorgeCampaioli, GiuliaRondinone, MariaBomfim, HelenaGermano, Lindanuza2019-06-01Faustino , B , Lopes , P , Oliveira , J , Campaioli , G , Rondinone , M , Bomfim , H & Germano , L 2019 , ' Psychometric and Rash Analysis of the UCLA Loneliness Scale-16 in a Portuguese Sample of Older Adults ' , Psychological Studies , vol. 64 , no. 2 , pp. 140-146 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-019-00483-50033-2968Publisher Copyright: © 2019, National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) India.Loneliness is a serious concern in modern societies, particularly among older adults, while being imperative that clinicians use reliable instruments for an accurate assessment of this problem. This study aims to describe a mixed statistical approach to assess the psychometric properties of the UCLA Loneliness Scale-16 in Portuguese old-aged individuals. The sample comprised 153 individuals (59.1% women and 40.3% men), aged 61–98 (M = 78.80, SD = 8.58). The psychometric properties of UCLA Loneliness Scale-16 were analyzed with exploratory factorial analysis, internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity and through the item response theory. The results suggested a bidimensional structure for this instrument. The scale showed satisfactory psychometric properties with a high internal consistency. In addition, a negative relationship with constructs of social support and functionality was also observed. Overall results suggest that the UCLA Loneliness Scale-16 is a psychometric reliable measure to evaluate social loneliness in the Portuguese elderly population.engopenAccessLoneliness scaleOlder adultsPsychometricsRash analysisarticlehttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-019-00483-5http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85067280359&partnerID=8YFLogxK