
Workplace Loneliness and Ostracism Among Healthcare Professionals: Causes, Effects, and Solution Proposals
Chapter from the book:
Çetinceli,
K.
(ed.)
2025.
Organizational Behavior: Contemporary Approaches in Theory and Practice.
Synopsis
The healthcare sector is a critical field directly related to human life, characterized by high workload and intense stress. Under these challenging conditions, workplace loneliness and ostracism are increasingly prevalent psychosocial issues among healthcare professionals. This book chapter comprehensively aims to explore the causes, individual and organizational effects, and coping strategies related to these phenomena. Literature reviews indicate that workplace loneliness and ostracism lead to negative outcomes such as depression, anxiety, burnout, low job satisfaction, and increased turnover intention. Furthermore, these conditions are emphasized to adversely affect patient safety and healthcare service quality. The roles of demographic and professional characteristics like gender, age, tenure, and occupation on these perceptions have been analyzed, and global pandemics (e.g., COVID-19) have been identified as exacerbating these phenomena. At the organizational level, recommendations include developing leadership skills, fostering effective communication and teamwork, and managing role ambiguity and workload balance. At the individual level, enhancing social skills, strengthening social support systems, and encouraging seeking professional help are crucial. This chapter seeks to guide healthcare managers, policymakers, and professionals in creating healthier, more supportive, and inclusive work environments.