Appendices Appendix 1: data sources National level surveys Below is a list of national-level surveys that could yield data on loneliness and social isolation. ¤ English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) ¤ Life Opportunities Survey (LOS) ¤ Lifestyle and Opinion Survey ¤ Understanding Society De Jong Gierveld loneliness scales Items of the 11-Item and 6-Item (green) De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scales Items Emotional subscale Social subscale 1. There is always someone I can talk to about my day-to-day X problems 2. I miss having a really close friend X 3. I experience a general sense of emptiness X 4. There are plenty of people I can rely on when I have problems X 5. I miss the pleasure of the company of others X 6. I find my circle of friends and acquaintances too limited X 7. There are many people I can trust completely X 8. There are enough people I feel close to X 9. I miss having people around X 10. I often feel rejected X 11. I can call on my friends whenever I need them X The 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale has proved to be a valid and reliable measurement instrument for overall, emotional, and social loneliness, while the 6-item scale may prove more suitable in large surveys. Isolation and loneliness 39