Together—The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World

Motley, Carol P.; Linder, Charlotte C.

doi:10.22454/fammed.2021.938270

Cited by 17 publications

(23 citation statements)

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“…Loneliness is an important issue in society, 6 and in as early as 2017, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called loneliness a public health epidemic. 18 In their 2020 Loneliness and the Workplace Report, health insurer Cigna surveyed over 10,000 Americans and found that 61% of respondents were lonely, and that loneliness had increased by 7 percentage points from 2018 to 2019. 9 Anchor et al reported that those with professional degrees (law and medical degrees) were the loneliest, 1 and many groups have reported loneliness in the medical field.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness in healthcare providers: Results from a mid-pandemic survey

Kolcz,

Ferrand,

Young

et al. 2023

Clinical Medicine Insights: Psychiatry

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Background Provider loneliness in healthcare can have devastating consequences. The causes of loneliness are not well known and workplace changes during the COVID-19 pandemic likely cause fewer opportunities for socialization. Objective We sought to explore the relationships between healthcare worker loneliness and isolation among various specialties and work environments. We evaluated factors that may contribute to increased loneliness/isolation, such as job satisfaction, time with peers, and work-related changes during COVID-19. Design An email containing an 18-item survey was sent out to Hartford Hospital’s medical staff. Setting Hartford Hospital Participants Hartford Hospital’s medical staff including physicians, psychologists, physician assistants, and APRNs Measurements Our survey included demographic information, questions regarding frequency of meaningful interactions with colleagues, isolation behaviors, as well as the UCLA 3-Item Loneliness Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-2, Single-Item Burnout Scale, and Single-Item Measure of Job Satisfaction Results Of 1,015 respondents, almost half (48%) reported feeling lonely. Staff in procedure areas had significantly higher loneliness scores, while hospital-based floor/unit staff reported the lowest scores. Isolation was attributed to exhaustion from clinical work (36.1%), being too busy (39.6%), and being cautious due to COVID-19 (39.2%). Those who reported burnout, depression, and having few meaningful interactions all had increased loneliness scores. Those with higher job satisfaction reported lower loneliness. Limitations While our study had a 51% response rate, this rate is equivalent or higher than the response rate the organization receives to obligatory engagement surveys. It is likely that the ongoing pandemic affected these results. Conclusion We found significant levels of loneliness among our medical staff that appeared strongly related to work setting and environment. Social isolation behaviors were associated with higher loneliness scores. Future research should examine the efficacy of tailored strategies/interventions to reduce loneliness. Primary Funding Source None

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness in healthcare providers: Results from a mid-pandemic survey

Kolcz,

Ferrand,

Young

et al. 2023

Clinical Medicine Insights: Psychiatry

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“…Similar to findings by Brion et al (2014), this results of this study showed that positive social connections, including support from groups, peers, and health care providers, contributed to self-compassion for Black WLWH. The importance of social connections between individuals, especially individuals living with HIV, offers support and healing connections and leads to healthier and more productive, fulfilling lives (Lowther et al, 2018;Murthy, 2020). Lowther et al (2018) found that support by health care providers can also play an effective role in alleviating HIV-associated stigma, especially if a person living with HIV lacks family or social support; similarly, lack of health care provider support can further perpetuate stigma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Resilience Among Black Women Living With HIV in the Southern United States: Findings From a Qualitative Study

Koch

Ritchwood

Bailey

et al. 2021

J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care

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Black women living with HIV (WLWH) face individual and sociostructural challenges. Despite these challenges, many exemplify remarkable levels of resilience and coping. Yet, research on resilience and coping in this population is limited. Twenty Black WLWH in the Southern United States completed semi-structured interviews that explored challenges facing WLWH. We identified six themes related to resilience and coping: self-acceptance, disclosure, self-compassion, social support, will to live, and service. Of these, social support was a driving protective element and an essential component to building and sustaining resilience and coping. Women who experienced positive support often expressed a will to live as well as a desire to support other WLWH. Resilience and social support were characterized by patterns of reciprocity, in that they were mutually sustaining, stabilizing, and strengthening.

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“…Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy describes loneliness as a silent pandemic and highlights the systemic causes of loneliness and its increasingly negative implications. 43…”

Section: Loneliness and Lack Of Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Importance of Mental Health in STEM

Pester

Noh

2023

ACS Polym. Au

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From homework to exams to proposal deadlines, STEM academia bears many stressors for students, faculty, and administrators. The increasing prevalence of burnout as an occupational phenomenon, along with anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses in the STEM community is an alarming sign that help is needed. We describe common mental illnesses, identify risk factors, and outline symptoms. We intend to provide guidance on how some people can cope with stressors while also giving advice for those who wish to help their suffering friends, colleagues, or peers. We hope to spark more conversation about this important topic that may affect us allwhile also encouraging those who suffer (or have suffered) to share their stories and serve as role models for those who feel they cannot speak.

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Together—The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

Loneliness in healthcare providers: Results from a mid-pandemic survey

Loneliness in healthcare providers: Results from a mid-pandemic survey

Exploring Resilience Among Black Women Living With HIV in the Southern United States: Findings From a Qualitative Study

On the Importance of Mental Health in STEM

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