Validating the Polish Adaptation of the 11-Item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale

Abstract

The aim of this study was to translate into Polish and establish the psychometric properties of the 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS). The translation process followed the recent guidelines for the crosscultural adaptation of questionnaires and was tested through analysis of differential item functioning (DIF) by the use of the Poly-SIBTEST method and bilingual groups. The essential unidimensionality was checked by bifactor analysis. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency and homogeneity analysis, and external construct validity by correlation with several external scales. The research indicated no differences in item performance between the final Polish and English versions, and confirmed the earlier findings indicating that the DJGLS measures two dimensions of loneliness (social and emotional) which generalize into a higher-order factor of a general sense of loneliness (bifactor structure). Reliability (α = .89) and homogeneity (H = .47) proved to be high. Research showed that the instrument has a satisfactory validity criterion: Correlation with the UCLA Loneliness Scale r = .82; with Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale r = –.56; and with the Beck Depression Inventory r = .46 (all p < .01). The Polish adaptation of the DJGLS thus presents a bifactor structure, with good levels of internal consistency, homogeneity, and construct validity.

Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Spanish version of the 11-item De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale

“…In line with growing research, loneliness was highly correlated with depression (Cohen-Mansfield and ParpuraGill, 2007;Cukrowicz et al, 2011;Grygiel et al, 2012;Jaremka et al, 2012;Losada et al, 2012). This finding provides additional evidence to the studies that point out significant associations between loneliness and depression, and highlights the need to consider the measurement of loneliness for a better understanding of mental health in the elderly.…”

“…In this regard, van Baarsen et al (2001) also highlighted the ambiguity of the social or emotional component of the items, thus making the examination of the internal structure of the scale more difficult. Similarly, Grygiel et al (2012) found that not all the positive items defined social loneliness and not all negative items defined emotional loneliness. Despite the presence of DIF we did not deeply examine it by means of different techniques other than the Rasch model.…”

“…We further examined its convergent and discriminant validity. Based on previous findings (Buz et al, in press;van Baarsen et al, 2001;Prieto-Flores et al, 2011;Grygiel et al, 2012), we expected that the DJGLS scores would relate to high levels of self-rated loneliness, depression and negative affect, and low levels of positive affect and satisfaction with life. We also expected the scale to have the ability to detect differences in loneliness among various population sub-groups: females, widows, those with poor health, older adults living alone, those with low educational level, a low number of nuclear family members, low emotional support, low satisfaction with their social relationships, and low social participation (Buz et al, in press;Pinquart and Sörensen, 2001;Sánchez et al, 2012).…”

Análisis factorial confirmatorio de la escala de soledad de De Jong Gierveld en personas mayores españolas

“…Similarly, van Tilburg et al, (2004) recognized the possibility that negative items might measure social and emotional loneliness and that positive ones would only measure social loneliness. Grygiel et al (2012) also found the best fit for a bifactor model, which indicated that all items were related to a general feeling of loneliness. The correlation between the social and emotional factors was .77.…”

Poczucie przywiązania i osamotnienia w relacjach małżeńskich

“…De Jong Gierveld i F. Kamphuis (1985), polska adaptacja P. Grygiel, G. Humenny, S. RĊbisz, P. ĝwitaj i J. Sikorska-Grygiel (2012), jest zasadniczo jednowymiarowa i mierzy zgeneralizowane poczucie samotnoĞci (zmienna zaleĪna). NarzĊdzie to składa siĊ z 11 twierdzeĔ i jest czĊĞciowo zbalansowane.…”