Structure of loneliness experience assessed by A. Rokach’s questionnaire

Abstract

An investigation was carried out on 484 subjects aged 16-90 years. The sample consisted of 261 women and 223 men. The aim of the investigation was to examine the structure of loneliness experience, as well as age and gender differences. A. Rokach’s questionnaire “Experience of Loneliness” was used. That part of the questionnaire (68 items) which assesses the negative aspects of loneliness was analysed with principal factor analysis. Five factors were extracted which were named as: Emotional Distress, Interpersonal Isolation, Exclusion, Social Inadequacy and Physical Manifestations. Higher order factor analysis extracted just one factor - Experience of Loneliness. The theoretical expectation that the Experience of loneliness includes emotional, social, behavioural, cognitive and physical dimensions was confirmed. There were no age differences in Emotional Distress. Younger subjects (19 to 24 years old) have higher results on Interpersonal Isolation, Exclusion and Social Inadequacy, while older subjects (65 to 90 years old) have higher results on the factor of Physical Manifestations. Gender differences are present in all five factors indicating that women are more lonely. The resu Ils are interpreted in relation to developmental theories (Erikson, Levinson). It is indicated that the results could be potentially used especially in clinical work with younger subjects.