Workplace Loneliness (WLS, Wright et al.)
HR & WorkReliability: alpha 0.943 sample items
About this scale
A 16-item measure of loneliness specifically in the workplace, distinct from general loneliness. Captures emotional deprivation and lack of social companionship at work.
Sample item(s)
“I feel emotionally distant from the people I work with”
“I feel part of a group of friends at work (reverse)”
“I have someone at work I can talk to about my day-to-day work problems (reverse)”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: alpha 0.94. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Useful in remote-work and post-pandemic research.
Source & citation
Wright, S. L., Burt, C. D. B., & Strongman, K. T. (2006): Loneliness in the workplace: Construct definition and scale development. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 59–68.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
Use it in your research
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