Performance of an Abbreviated Version of the Lubben Social Network Scale Among Three European Community-Dwelling Older Adult Populations
2006/08/01 by James Lubben, Eva Blozik, Gerhard Gillmann +4 · 2,113 citations
Medicine · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Chronic Disease Management Strategies #Clinical psychology #Computer science #Convergent validity #Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research #Friendship #Geography #Gerontology #Health disparities and outcomes #Internal consistency #Interpersonal ties #Medicine #Psychiatry #Psychological intervention #Psychology #Psychometrics #Scale (ratio) #Social isolation #Social network (sociolinguistics) #Social psychology #Social support
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/geront/46.4.503
published in The Gerontologist 46(4), 503-513 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 2006/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract
PURPOSE: There is a need for valid and reliable short scales that can be used to assess social networks and social supports and to screen for social isolation in older persons. DESIGN AND METHODS: The present study is a cross-national and cross-cultural evaluation of the performance of an abbreviated version of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), which was used to screen for social isolation among community-dwelling older adult populations in three European countries. Based on the concept of lack of redundancy of social ties we defined clinical cut-points of the LSNS-6 for identifying persons deemed at risk for social isolation. RESULTS: Among all three samples, the LSNS-6 and two subscales (Family and Friends) demonstrated high levels of internal consistency, stable factor structures, and high correlations with criterion variables. The proposed clinical cut-points showed good convergent validity, and classified 20% of the respondents in Hamburg, 11% of those in Solothurn (Switzerland), and 15% of those in London as at risk for social isolation. IMPLICATIONS: We conclude that abbreviated scales such as the LSNS-6 should be considered for inclusion in practice protocols of gerontological practitioners. Screening older persons based on the LSNS-6 provides quantitative information on their family and friendship ties, and identifies persons at increased risk for social isolation who might benefit from in-depth assessment and targeted interventions.
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