Research on the measurement of loneliness
A report by Alma Economics exploring how changes in loneliness can be effectively measured over time, particularly in the context of evaluating interventions.
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Alma Economics was commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) to explore the current landscape of loneliness measurement. This project specifically aimed to identify the tools and approaches available for measuring changes in an individual’s experience of loneliness over time, particularly in the context of evaluating programmes and interventions. It also sought to assess whether any existing measures are well-suited for this purpose, and – where gaps exist – to consider the work that could support the development of loneliness measurement.
A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) offered a clear picture of which loneliness measures are currently used to assess change over time. However, the included studies provided limited insight into the relative strengths, limitations, and suitability of these tools to capture changes in an individual’s loneliness over time. To address this gap, interviews and focus groups with academics, researchers and representatives of sector organisations involved in loneliness interventions were conducted. Together, these findings reveal insight into the challenges of measuring loneliness over time in intervention contexts and considerations for any further development of the measurement of loneliness.