Benefits and Pitfalls of Non-Work Attending-Resident Socializing: A Literature Review

There is currently limited research in unstructured trainee-supervisor relationships within graduate medical education despite extensive literature on formal mentor/mentee relationships. These informal interactions and socializing are relatively common, but their prevalence and social costs and benefits remain poorly characterized. We performed a review of the existing literature to understand the breadth and depth of both online and in-person informal interactions, and their effects on the learner-supervisor experience within the clinical learning environment.

We searched PubMed in December 2024 for articles discussing informal or out-of-work socializing between medical trainees and supervisors both in-person and online environments.

A total of seven studies were found addressing our research question out of the 745 studies returned. These studies took multiple formats including semi-structured interviews, surveys of current residents and attendings, and social media analysis. Several studies described benefits of informal/unstructured socializing such as resident wellness and a positive impact on the work environment, while multiple studies raised concerns about the blurring of professional boundaries. There was minimal discussion of how socializing between trainees and supervisors may influence evaluations or may lead to favoritism that may harm the clinical learning environment.

Informal/unstructured friendships and social relationships between trainees and supervisors have the potential to promote wellness for trainees and supervisors but also risk blurring of professional boundaries. More research is needed on these types of informal and out-of-office relationships to develop best practices and better understand their impact.