J Korean Acad Nurs.  2019 Oct;49(5):643-654. 10.4040/jkan.2019.49.5.643.

Development of the Korean Geriatric Loneliness Scale (KGLS)

• Lee SE

• KMID: 2461862
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2019.49.5.643

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to develop and psychometrically test the Korean Geriatric Loneliness Scale (KGLS).
METHODS
The initial items were based on in-depth interviews with 10 older adults. Psychometric testing was then conducted with 322 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 or older. Content, construct, and criterion-related validity, classification in cutoff point, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability were used for the analysis.
RESULTS
Exploratory factor analysis showed three factors, including 15 items explaining 91.6% of the total variance. The three distinct factors were loneliness associated with family relationships (34.3%), social loneliness (32.4%), and a lack of belonging (24.9%). As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, 14 items in the three-factor structure were validated. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that the KGLS' cutoff point of 32 was associated with a sensitivity of 71.0%, specificity of 80.2%, and area under the curve of .83. Reliability, as verified by the test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient, was .89, and Cronbach's α was .90.
CONCLUSION
As its validity and reliability have been verified through various methods, the KGLS can contribute to assessing loneliness in South Korean older adults.

Keyword

Aged; Loneliness; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Reproducibility of Results

MeSH Terms

Adult
Classification
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Family Relations
Humans
Loneliness*
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results
ROC Curve
Sensitivity and Specificity

Reference

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