⚠ Educational Use Only — The SCS-R is a self-report research tool for educational purposes only. It does not provide a clinical assessment or formal evaluation. If you have concerns about social isolation or mental health, please consult a qualified professional.
20Items
6-ptLikert Scale
20–120Score Range
FreeNo Sign-up

Free Social Connectedness Scale Revised (SCS-R) Online — 20-Item Sense of Belonging Test

The SCS-R was developed by Lee, Draper & Lee (2001) to measure the psychological sense of belonging to the social world as a whole — not specific relationships, but an internal "relational schema" of feeling part of humanity. 20 items, 6-point scale, 10 reverse-scored items handled automatically, free printable PDF.

Free printable PDF — instant scoring, no account needed.
Item Mean (÷20)Total ScoreInterpretation
3.5 – 6.070–120Strong social connectedness
< 3.520–69Low social connectedness

 All 20 SCS-R Items (Lee, Draper & Lee, 2001)

  1. I feel distant from people. ↑ reverse
  2. I don't feel related to most people. ↑ reverse
  3. I feel like an outsider. ↑ reverse
  4. I see myself as a loner. ↑ reverse
  5. I feel disconnected from the world around me. ↑ reverse
  6. I don't feel I participate with anyone or any group. ↑ reverse
  7. I feel close to people.
  8. Even around people I know, I don't feel that I really belong. ↑ reverse
  9. I am able to relate to my peers.
  10. I catch myself losing a sense of connectedness with society. ↑ reverse
  11. I am able to connect with other people.
  12. I feel understood by the people I know.
  13. I see people as friendly and approachable.
  14. I fit in well in new situations.
  15. I have little sense of togetherness with my peers. ↑ reverse
  16. My friends feel like family.
  17. I find myself actively involved in people's lives.
  18. Even among my friends, there is no sense of brother/sisterhood. ↑ reverse
  19. I am in tune with the world.
  20. I feel comfortable in the presence of strangers.
Orange items are reverse-scored (formula: 7 − original response). This is handled automatically.
Item 1 of 20 Auto-saved

Item text...

Neuroviax Academy — SCS-R Results
neuroviaxacademy.com/tools/social-connectedness-scale-scs-r-test.html
0/ 120
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SCS-R Social Connectedness Profile

Item Mean: 0.0 / 6.0  ‧  Generated:

 SCS-R Scoring Reference

Mean ≥ 3.5Strong social connectedness — healthy sense of belonging
Mean < 3.5Low social connectedness — persistent sense of distance from society
SCS-R Interpretation

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 Academic Citations

Lee, R. M., Draper, M., & Lee, S. (2001). Social connectedness, dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors, and psychological distress: Testing a mediator model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48(3), 310-318. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.48.3.310 Lee, R. M., & Robbins, S. B. (1995). Measuring belongingness: The Social Connectedness and the Social Assurance Scales. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 42(2), 232-241. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.42.2.232

How to Use This Free SCS-R Test

Step 01

Read the items

All 20 SCS-R items are shown above. You can preview them before starting. Rate each based on how you generally feel — not in a specific situation.

Step 02

Rate 1–6 each

Select 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 6 (Strongly Agree). 10 items are negatively worded and marked — they are reverse-scored automatically. Just answer honestly.

Step 03

Get your score

Instant results: total score (20–120) and item mean (1–6). Item mean ≥ 3.5 = strong connectedness. Item mean < 3.5 = low connectedness. Interpreted with Lee et al. (2001) context.

Step 04

Export free PDF

Save your complete SCS-R profile — total score, item mean, interpretation, and citations — as a formatted PDF, free.

SCS vs SCS-R: The original SCS (Lee & Robbins, 1995) had 8 items, all negatively worded — which created acquiescence bias. The revised SCS-R (Lee, Draper & Lee, 2001) expanded to 20 items by adding 12 positively worded statements, improving reliability and psychometric balance. This tool implements the SCS-R (20-item version).
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Social Connectedness Scale Revised (SCS-R): All 20 Items, Scoring & Reverse-Scored Items

The Social Connectedness Scale Revised (SCS-R) was developed by Lee, Draper & Lee (2001), building on the original 8-item SCS (Lee & Robbins, 1995). The SCS-R measures a specific psychological construct: the internal sense of belonging to the social world as a whole — not with specific people, but with humanity in general. This construct is grounded in Kohut's self-psychology theory and the concept of "relational schema" — a deeply held cognitive-affective structure about one's place in the social world.

SCS-R Scoring: Items, Scale, and Reverse Scoring

The SCS-R uses a 6-point Likert scale: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Somewhat Disagree, 4 = Somewhat Agree, 5 = Agree, 6 = Strongly Agree. 10 of the 20 items are negatively worded and require reverse scoring. The reverse-scoring formula is: 7 minus the original response. Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, and 18 are reverse-scored. Total score sums all 20 items (range 20–120). The item mean divides total by 20 (range 1–6). Item mean ≥ 3.5 indicates strong connectedness; item mean < 3.5 indicates low connectedness.

SCS-R: All 20 items with subscale type and scoring direction (Lee, Draper & Lee, 2001)
#SCS-R Item TextDirection
1I feel distant from people.Reverse
2I don't feel related to most people.Reverse
3I feel like an outsider.Reverse
4I see myself as a loner.Reverse
5I feel disconnected from the world around me.Reverse
6I don't feel I participate with anyone or any group.Reverse
7I feel close to people.Standard
8Even around people I know, I don't feel that I really belong.Reverse
9I am able to relate to my peers.Standard
10I catch myself losing a sense of connectedness with society.Reverse
11I am able to connect with other people.Standard
12I feel understood by the people I know.Standard
13I see people as friendly and approachable.Standard
14I fit in well in new situations.Standard
15I have little sense of togetherness with my peers.Reverse
16My friends feel like family.Standard
17I find myself actively involved in people's lives.Standard
18Even among my friends, there is no sense of brother/sisterhood.Reverse
19I am in tune with the world.Standard
20I feel comfortable in the presence of strangers.Standard
SCS-R vs MSPSS: key differences in measuring social connectedness vs social support
FeatureSCS-R (Social Connectedness)MSPSS (Perceived Social Support)
What it measuresInternal psychological sense of belonging to society as a wholePerceived functional support from Family, Friends, Significant Other
RoleAntecedent — foundational relational schemaMediator — buffers stress through specific relationships
Items / Scale20 items, 6-point agree/disagree12 items, 7-point agree/disagree
Best useAlienation, university transition, belonging, migration studiesTrauma recovery, chronic illness, family dynamics studies

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SCS-R and how is it scored?

The Social Connectedness Scale Revised (Lee, Draper & Lee, 2001) is a 20-item questionnaire measuring the internal psychological sense of belonging. Scored 1–6 per item. 10 items are reverse-scored (7 minus original). Total score 20–120. Item mean (total ÷ 20) ≥ 3.5 = strong connectedness; < 3.5 = low connectedness.

Which SCS-R items are reverse-scored?

Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, and 18 (1-based). These are negatively worded items ("I feel distant from people", "I feel like an outsider", etc.). Reverse-scoring formula: 7 minus original response. This tool handles it automatically.

What does a low SCS-R score mean?

Item mean below 3.5 indicates low social connectedness — a persistent internal sense of distance, alienation, or feeling like an outsider from society as a whole. Lee et al. research found low connectedness is associated with dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors as a defense against perceived rejection and increased psychological distress.

How does the SCS-R differ from the original SCS?

The original SCS (Lee & Robbins, 1995) had 8 items, all negatively worded — creating acquiescence bias. The revised SCS-R (2001) added 12 positively worded items (20 total), improving psychometric balance and internal consistency.

Is this SCS-R test free?

Yes — completely free, no sign-up. Complete all 20 items for instant results and a free printable PDF.

Does this replace a professional evaluation?

No. The SCS-R is a self-report research tool — not a clinical assessment. Please consult a qualified professional if you have concerns about social isolation or mental health.