Moving the Work Forward
in 2026
What are we measuring?
Social isolation, loneliness and social connection describe different aspects of our relationships with others. Understanding these differences can help you choose a tool that measures what matters for your work.
Social Isolation
How much contact do people have with others?
Social isolation describes having few relationships or limited interaction with other people. It focuses on the amount of social contact, regardless of how someone feels about it.
Tools may measure:
- Size of a person’s social network
- Frequency of contact with friends or family
- Participation in social activities
Loneliness
Do people have the connection they need?
Loneliness is the feeling that our relationships do not meet our needs for connection. Someone can spend time with others and still feel lonely.
Tools may measure:
-
Feelings of being left out
-
A perceived lack of companionship
-
Feelings of disconnection from others
Social Connection
How supported and connected do people feel?
Social connection includes the relationships in our lives, the support they provide and the quality of our interactions. It also includes feeling valued and belonging.
Tools may measure:
- Availability of social and emotional support
- Quality and satisfaction of relationships
- Sense of belonging to a group or community
Choose the measure that matches your goal. A program may increase social contact without reducing loneliness. Consider whether you want to understand the amount of contact, how people feel about their relationships, or the support and belonging they experience.
Explore the Social Connection Measurement Tools Inventory
The Social Connection Measurement Tools Inventory, developed by the Foundation for Social Connection in partnership with the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness, brings together more than 55 measures of social connection, social isolation and loneliness.
The inventory includes information about intended populations, measurement methods and research on reliability and validity. It offers a starting point for community organizations, public health partners, researchers and practitioners exploring tools for their work.
How to use the inventory
- Filter to narrow the list to tools that match your interests or needs.
- Group to organize tools into categories.
- Sort to change the order in which tools appear.
Review the information for promising tools, then consult their original instructions and supporting research before choosing a measure.
Prefer a larger view? Open the inventory in a new tab.
Put measurement into practice
Before choosing a tool, consider:
- Your purpose: Are you identifying needs, evaluating a program or tracking community trends?
- Your participants: Is the tool appropriate for their ages, languages, cultural backgrounds and accessibility needs?
- Your capacity: How much time will participants and staff need to complete and use the measure?
- Your approach: How will you collect information consistently and follow the tool’s scoring instructions?
- Your next steps: How will findings inform decisions and be shared with participants?
For evaluation, consider collecting information before an activity begins and again at an appropriate follow-up point. Pair survey findings with participant feedback about what helped, what changed and what barriers remain. Changes in scores can support learning, but do not by themselves establish that a program caused the change.
Count participation. Ask about connection.
Attendance tells us how many people took part. Evaluation should also explore what participation meant to them. Did they develop relationships, find support or feel more welcome? Choose measures that reflect the outcomes your effort hopes to achieve.
Inventory provided by the Foundation for Social Connection. Visit the original resource for additional guidance, definitions and updates.
