Abstract

In this study, gender and age invariance of the Loneliness-Second Order Common Factor Scale(L−SOCF Scale) was examined by analyzing the scale's validation data from a sample of 620 participants, comprising both males and females, aged between 18 and 75 years. The Multiple Groups Confirmatory Factor Analysis(MG−CFA) demonstrated that the L−SOCF Scale exhibits configural, metric, and scalar invariance across gender. The MG−CFA, conducted with three age groups(Youth, Middle-aged, Senior), likewise revealed that the L−SOCF Scale maintains configural, metric, and scalar invariance across these age categories. The discussion section elucidated the rationale for assessing age invariance through the categorization of age, which was measured originally as a continuous variable. This study affirmed that the interpretations of both the overall score and the individual factor scores of the L−SOCF Scale remain consistent across genders and various age groups.