Adaptation of the Loneliness and Solitude Scale (LSS) into Turkish

Experiences of loneliness and solitude are significant phenomena that are closely associated with individuals' psychological health and adaptation processes. The present study sought to adapt the Loneliness and Solitude Scale (LSS), which conceptualizes physical isolation through closely related yet functionally distinct dimensions, into Turkish and to examine its psychometric characteristics. This cross-sectional scale adaptation study was conducted with a sample of 377 young adults aged between 18 and 35. Data were collected using the Loneliness and Solitude Scale (LSS), the Meaningful Living Measure (MLM), and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Construct validity and measurement invariance were assessed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using robust maximum likelihood (MLR) estimation, while the nomological structure was explored via regularized partial correlation network analysis (EBICglasso). The CFA findings supported the original two-factor structure of the scale and demonstrated satisfactory model fit indices (CFI = .948, TLI = .923, RMSEA = .081, SRMR = .039). Reliability analyses also indicated strong internal consistency for both subdimensions (Ordinal α = .85–.90, ω = .80–.85). In addition, multi-group CFA results confirmed full scalar measurement invariance across gender, suggesting that the construct is interpreted similarly by both female and male participants, with no significant latent mean differences observed. The network analysis indicated a negative partial association between loneliness and solitude. Notably, solitude was positively linked only to meaningful living, whereas loneliness was associated with maladaptive psychological patterns, showing direct negative associations with both psychological resilience and meaningful living. Overall, these findings indicate that the LSS is a valid, reliable, and gender-invariant measurement tool for assessing the multifaceted nature of social isolation among Turkish young adults.