Development and Validation of the Caring Loneliness Scale

Background and Purpose: The Caring Loneliness Scale (CARLOS) includes 5 categories derived from earlier qualitative research. This article assesses the reliability and construct validity of a scale designed to measure patient experiences of loneliness in a professional caring relationship. Methods: Statistical analysis with 4 different sample sizes included Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factoring extraction. Results: The sample size of 250 gave the most useful and comprehensible structure, but all 4 samples yielded underlying content of loneliness experiences. The initial 5 categories were reduced to 4 factors with 24 items and Cronbach's alpha ranging from .77 to .90. Conclusion: The findings support the reliability and validity of CARLOS for the assessment of Finnish breast cancer and heart surgery patients' experiences but as all instruments, further validation is needed.