Conclusion
The prevalence of loneliness in practicing family medicine physicians is high and is significantly associated with burnout and depression. Our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the disproportionate amount of emotional distress experienced by physicians. In response, health care systems, employers, and payers need to prioritize understanding and addressing the factors relating to physician wellbeing. Future research ought to study the temporal relationship between loneliness, burnout, depression, and the factors related to the manifestation of these conditions to inform effective interventions.
This article was externally peer reviewed.
Funding
None.
J Am Board Fam Med. 2021;34(3):531-541. © 2021 American Board of Family Medicine