Lonely but Not Alone: Emotional Isolation and Social Isolation as Two Distinct Dimensions of Loneliness in Older People

The unidimensional nature of the De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale is investigated. The internal properties of the scale scores were studied using item response theory, supplemented by an external validity study. In line with the theory of relational loneliness, the results stress the significance of distinguishing between emotional loneliness and social loneliness.