The Loneliness of the Family Medicine Chair: A CERA Study

Leadership roles may increase symptoms of loneliness that negatively impact health outcomes and job performance. This study examined loneliness among family medicine department chairs and explored mitigating factors.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of family medicine chairs in the United States and Canada within the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) survey. The survey assessed loneliness symptoms in respondents' professional lives, professional relationships, organizational engagement, and demographics. Loneliness scores ranged from 3 (least lonely) to 9 (most lonely), with scores of 6 or greater indicating loneliness.

Of 227 eligible chairs, 114 (50.2%) responded. The mean loneliness score was 4.77, with 35.8% of respondents classified as lonely. While 56.1% reported no change in loneliness since becoming chair, 29.4% reported increased feelings of loneliness. The number of trusted colleagues within the chair's institution was significantly correlated with decrease in loneliness symptoms. Chairs reporting no trusted institutional colleagues had a mean loneliness score of 7 compared to lower scores among those with one or more trusted colleagues. External professional relationships and organizational engagement were not significantly associated with loneliness. No significant differences in loneliness were found based on age, gender, or underrepresented in medicine status.

More than one-third of family medicine chairs experience loneliness in their professional lives. Having trusted colleagues within one's institution is associated with less identified loneliness and may be a mitigating factor. This study demonstrates the importance of identifying and mitigating loneliness in family medicine chairs and other leaders in academic medicine.