Objectives/Goals: To culturally adapt and validate the Spanish version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale-10 for the Puerto Rican population and to determine the prevalence and characteristics of loneliness among individuals aged 60 and older across various regions of the island. Methods/Study Population: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted including cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Spanish UCLA Loneliness Scale-10. A pilot with 47 older adults from northeastern Puerto Rico preceded a stratified random sample of 400 adults aged 60+ from public housing in 24 municipalities, covering Puerto Rico’s eight regions. Sample size was calculated with 99% confidence and 5% error margin. Recruitment occurred Dec 2024–Mar 2025. Inclusion: age ≥60, Spanish-speaking, residing in Puerto Rico. Cognitive function was screened using MMSE. Results/Anticipated Results: Most participants were female (78. 3%) and aged 60-70 (59. 5%). Over half lived alone (54. 3%), and 82% earned under 10, 000 annually. The UCLA Loneliness Scale showed high validity (CVI=0. 99) and reliability (α=0. 88). Loneliness prevalence was 39. 8%, mostly moderate, with 4. 25% severe. No significant differences in loneliness by gender, marital status, or family composition were found. However, low income, limited family accessibility, poor neighborhood relations, and mobility issues were significantly linked to higher loneliness. Social activity showed a trend toward reducing loneliness but was not statistically significant. Discussion/Significance of Impact: This study with 400 Puerto Rican older adults confirms the culturally adapted UCLA-10 scale’s reliability (α=0. 88), crucial for accurately measuring loneliness in this population. Findings reveal 39. 8% loneliness prevalence, influenced by socioeconomic and social factors, underscoring the need for culturally sensitive interventions.
Beatriz Diaz Santiago (Wed,) studied this question.