Factorial structure, validity, and gender invariance of the UCLA-R loneliness scale in ecuadorian adolescents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Loneliness has a significant impact on mental and physical health across different stages of development, with particularly evident effects during adolescence. During this period, young individuals undergo substantial social and emotional transformations, making loneliness a global concern.

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the UCLA-R Loneliness Scale in Ecuadorian adolescents through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, assess its internal consistency, and examine factorial invariance across genders.

Method

The sample consisted of 718 school-aged adolescents (288 males and 430 females) aged 14-17 years (M = 15.72, SD = 0.747), selected through probabilistic sampling. A sociodemographic ad hoc questionnaire and th

SUBMITTER: Siguenza Campoverde WG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12321113 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature