B. Van Baarsen et al., Lonely but not alone: Emotional isolation and social isolation as two distinct dimensions of loneliness in older people, EDUC PSYC M, 61(1), 2001, pp. 119-135
The unidimensional nature of the De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale is inves
tigated. The internal properties of the scale scores were studied using ite
m response theory, supplemented by an external validity study. In line with
the theory of relational loneliness, the results stress the significance o
f distinguishing between emotional loneliness and social loneliness.