The Journal of psychology
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The Journal of psychology · Jan 2012
Comparative StudyIs it lonely at the top? An empirical study of managers' and nonmanagers' loneliness in organizations.
Loneliness is often assumed to be an occupational hazard for senior-ranked members of an organization. However, most of what researchers hear about being "lonely at the top" is anecdote. This article provides empirical evidence from three separate studies assessing loneliness in managers and nonmanagers. ⋯ Managers were no more or less lonely than their nonmanager counterparts. This suggests that factors beyond seniority may be contributing to loneliness in organizational settings. Ideas for future research are discussed.