medtests.de · Loneliness

Loneliness Test

Loneliness has little to do with how many people are around you. You can feel lonely in a crowd and content on your own. This self-test uses the De Jong Gierveld scale, a short instrument used worldwide. It is not a diagnosis, but it shows you emotional and social loneliness as two separate readings.

De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (6 items)

For each of the six statements, please indicate how much it applies to your situation right now. Answer the way you feel today, with Yes, More or less, or No.

6 questions~1 minanonymous, scored in your browsernot a diagnosis

Emotional and social loneliness

The scale separates two forms because they point to different needs. Emotional loneliness is the absence of a close, trusted bond, someone you feel truly near to. Social loneliness is the absence of a wider network, a group you belong to. They can occur independently. Someone with many loose contacts but no one to confide in is emotionally lonely; someone in a close relationship but otherwise isolated can be socially lonely. Your result shows both, so you can see where something is missing.

What does the result mean?

The total runs from 0 to 6, higher meaning more lonely. The bands (0 to 1, 2 to 4, 5 to 6) are a common orientation in research, not an official cutoff from the authors. This is a self-check, not a diagnosis. A low score does not mean you never feel alone, and a high score is not a flaw. What matters is whether the feeling lasts and weighs on you.

When support makes sense

If loneliness lasts for weeks, shapes your days, or comes with low mood, sleep problems, or lack of drive, it is worth talking to someone. Sometimes depression is underneath, and that responds well to treatment. If you feel very hopeless or have thoughts of ending your life, please do not stay alone with that; reach out to someone you trust or a local crisis line.

Source

De Jong Gierveld J, Van Tilburg TG. A 6-Item Scale for Overall, Emotional, and Social Loneliness. Research on Aging, 2006;28(5):582-598. DOI 10.1177/0164027506289723. The English items are the published original; our German version is a non-normed translation.

Frequently asked questions

Can you feel lonely even around many people?

Yes. Loneliness is not about the number of contacts but the sense of connection. That is exactly why the test measures emotional and social loneliness separately. You can have many loose contacts and still no one to confide in.

Is loneliness the same as depression?

No. Loneliness is a feeling, not a diagnosis. But it can go along with depression or contribute to it. If low mood, lack of drive, or sleep problems are also present, the depression test gives a clearer picture.

What does a high score mean?

A total of 5 or 6 points to a strong burden of loneliness. That is not a character flaw but a signal that a need for connection is currently unmet. If it lasts, support helps.

i
Reviewed by our editorial team

Instrument, scientific basis, and limitations checked. Last updated July 2026. Independent, anonymous, not a diagnosis.

After the test

A loneliness result is a signal, not a verdict. Note what stood out and use it as a starting point for a conversation with a medical or mental-health professional.

Explore further

Depression TestSelf-Esteem TestAnxiety TestSources