Table 1.
The Social Connectedness Instrument.
| Item # | Statement | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Description: The Social Connectedness Instrument assesses a person's perceived social connectedness and behavioral components of connection. In total, the instrument contains 26 items and questions split up into three sections. | ||
| Instructions: Select the response that most accurately describes you or your situation. The scale consists of 1–7: 1 = Never, 2 = Very Rarely, 3 = Rarely, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Often, 6 = Very Often, 7 = Always | ||
| 1 | Where I live limits my ability to have consistent positive social interactions. | Single-Item |
| 2 | Recent transitions have made me feel more socially connected. (Reverse scored) | PSD |
| 3 | Health concerns make it difficult for me to connect with others. | PED |
| 4 | I am concerned people will reject me. | PED |
| 5 | My interests, desires, or hobbies are shared by the people around me. (Reverse scored) | PSD |
| 6 | I feel confident in my ability to initiate relationships with others. (Reverse Scored) | PSD |
| 7 | I feel anxious in social situations. | PED |
| 8 | The risk of being bullied outweighs my desire to build friendships. | PED |
| 9 | My commitments (e.g., work, school, extracurriculars) interfere with my social life. | Single-Item |
| 10 | I think I am treated poorly by my friends. | PED |
| 11 | I lack the motivation to invest in deeper relationships. | PSD |
| 12 | To fit in, I change how I act around people. | PED |
| 13 | I feel included by others. (Reverse scored) | PSD |
| 14 | I prefer connecting with others online instead of in person. | Single-Item |
| 15 | I have negative thoughts about myself. | PED |
| 16 | Because of the heavy emotions I experience, I withdraw from others. | PED |
| 17 | I experience a sense of belonging and purpose through my religious beliefs. (Reverse scored) | PSD |
| 18 | I feel socially isolated. | PSD |
| Instructions: Report the most accurate number on a scale of 0–5. 0 = 0, 1 = 1, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 or more | ||
| 19 | How many meaningful conversations do you have each day? | Single-Item |
| 20 | How many close relationships do you have? | Single-Item |
| 21 | How many hours a day do you normally spend on social media (e.g., TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tinder/dating sites)? | Single-Item |
| 22 | How many hours a day do you normally spend watching television, movies, or streaming content (e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, YouTube)? | Single-Item |
| 23 | How many hours a day do you normally spend playing video games? | Single-Item |
| 24 | How many social events do you decline a week (for reasons other than studying, sleeping, self-care etc.) that result in you being alone? | Single-Item |
| 25 | How many religious services and/or activities do you meaningfully engage in per month? | Single-Item |
| Instructions: Select the response that most accurately describes you or your situation. Scale consists of 1–10: 1 = Not at all lonely; 10 = Extremely Lonely | ||
| 26 | How lonely do you feel right now? | Single-Item |
Items 2, 5, 6, 13, and 17 are reverse scored. Category refers to if it loaded onto a factor (PED, psychoemotional disconnectedness; PSD, psychosocial disconnectedness) or if it should be used as a single-item. Contact the corresponding author for a convenient version of the instrument.