DOI: 10.1177/10497315261463199 ISSN: 1049-7315

Loneliness among Chinese Adults: Validating the ALONE Scale With Age-Related Vulnerability

Ying Ma, Patrick Leung, Marla Berg-Weger, Monit Cheung, Theodore K. Malmstrom, Guixia Ma, Xin Chen
Show PDF Cite

Purpose:

This study validates the ALONE Scale (Chinese) and examines its age association.

Method:

We analyzed 2,019 anonymous adult responses from a nationwide Wenjuanxing survey in China. Using locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS) curves and logistic regression, we compared age differences in loneliness.

Results:

The scale demonstrated modest internal consistency (Cronbach's α  = .600) and a moderate concurrent association ( r  = .606) with the 8-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a cutoff score of 10 (range = 5–15). Logistic regression indicated an inverse association between age and loneliness. The adjusted LOWESS curve revealed a nonlinear age pattern, with peaks at ages 25 and 50; descriptively, peak ages were approximately 10 years later among women than men.

Discussion:

While the findings support the practicality of the ALONE Scale, users should discuss cultural meanings of these five items, incorporate relational-skill training to address silent struggles, and assess age-related stigma toward loneliness.

More from our Archive