Lonely but not alone: Emotional isolation and social isolation as two distinct dimensions of loneliness in older people

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.