The Existential Loneliness Questionnaire: Background, development, and preliminary findings

Abstract

We described the background and the development of a new measure of existential loneliness, the Existential Loneliness Questionnaire (ELQ). Specifically, we analyzed the items of the preliminary version of the ELQ (ELQ-P) using methods based on item response theory (the Rasch model) and examined the convergent and discriminative validity of the ELQ in a sample of 47 HIV-infected women. Item analysis produced an ELQ version consisting of 22 items that were internally consistent and performed well in measuring an underlying construct conceptualized as existential loneliness. In addition, the ELQ discriminated well between symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV-infected women. The ELQ correlated strongly with measures of depression, loneliness not identified as existential and purpose-in-life and moderately strongly with a measure of hopelessness. Holding constant depression scores, the correlation between the ELQ and loneliness not identified as existential was significantly attenuated. Limitations of the study include the small sample size, which precluded an analysis of the dimensional structure of the ELQ.

Existential issues and coping: A qualitative study of low-income women with HIV

“…Several authors have noted the possible psychological benefits of finding meaning for the HIV-infected population. These benefits have included lower levels of anxiety and depression in women (Linn, Anema, Estrada, Cain and Usoh, 1994); lower to moderate levels of existential loneliness in women (Mayers et al, 2002) and positive immunologic changes in men (Bower et al, 1998). The positive effects of active coping have been noted both in relation to clinical progression in the HIV-infected population (Mulder, Antoni, Duivenvoorden, Kauffman and Goodkin, 1995) and to emotional distress (Moneyham et al, 1998).…”

“…The nine HIV-infected mothers interviewed for this study were recruited from an earlier quantitative study conducted by the first author (Mayers et al, 2002). In view of the debate in the literature concerning the limitations of quantifying existential experiences, we wished to complement and add more depth to the results of the earlier study (cf.…”

“…Mayers et al, 2002). They were selected as they seemed to have a heightened experience of existential loneliness as determined by the existential loneliness scale (ELQ-P), an instrument that was developed by the first author.…”

“…Several studies have extended this idea and noted the meaning-giving, even ''life-transforming,'' aspects of an HIV diagnosis (Schwartzberg, 1993; also see Bower, Kemeny, Taylor and Fahey, 1998;Coward and Lewis, 1993;Crossley, 1998;Fryback and Reinert, 1999;Lamendola and Newman, 1994). Second, the findings of a previous quantitative study indicated that a group of 42 HIV-infected mothers seemed to be coping better than had initially been anticipated by the first author based on her prior relationship in a pediatric AIDS clinic with many of the mothers in the study (Mayers, Khoo and Svartberg, 2002). The results of this study indicated that symptomatic women had only moderately elevated levels of existential loneliness as measured with the Existential Loneliness Questionnaire (ELQ-P).…”

Clarifying the Relation Between Spirituality and Well-Being

“…The Existential Loneliness Questionnaire (ELQ; Mayers et al, 2002) is a 29-item questionnaire designed to measure feelings of helplessness, isolation, aloneness, meaninglessness, loss of freedom, untimely loss of children, and facing death or a foreshortened life. Internal consistency has been found to be adequate (Cronbach's > = 0.90).…”