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This paper describes the conceptual development and validation of a scale to measure loneliness in the workplace. Despite extensive literature on loneliness and the measurement of the phenomenon, the issue of assessing worker loneliness is not well researched. A 16-item self-report loneliness scale was developed for intended use in the workplace. Two separate studies were conducted to examine the reliability and validity of the scale. For each study participants were recruited by email and completed the scale via a website published on the internet. The first study included 514 employees, while the second study included 363 employees, each representing various occupational groups. Exploratory factor analysis using oblique rotation generated two factors representing emotional deprivation at work and social companionship at work. On a subsequent sample, confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure by demonstrating a significantly better fit than a single-factor structure. The results indicate the scale has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Preliminary evidence for convergent and discriminant validity is also provided.
The fostering of healthy interpersonal relationships is an integral part of any workplace and in many cases provides companionship for individuals who may not find it elsewhere. However, for some employees merely being in a social environment is not sufficient to conquer feelings of social deprivation and loneliness. Despite the pervasiveness of loneliness in society (Ernst & Cacioppo, 1998) the experience of loneliness in the workplace has generated little conceptual discussion and empirical substantiation. Broadly speaking, loneliness reflects a breakdown in social interaction and the quality of interpersonal relationships. Studying work-related loneliness may therefore give us insight into communication or interpersonal problems in the workplace, and signal the manifestation of a negative organisational climate. However, to enable further enquiry into work-related loneliness, it is first necessary to develop a measurement platform from which future research and interventions can be developed. This paper discusses the notion of worker loneliness and reports on the development of a scale to measure the degree of loneliness experienced by employees.
Defining Workplace Loneliness
It is generally agreed by researchers that loneliness is a psychological state that results from deficiencies in a person's social relationships, either qualitatively or quantitatively (Peplau & Perlman, 1982). Loneliness is often perceived as a selfish pursuit that is driven by...