All the Lonely People: An Integrated Review and Research Agenda on Work and Loneliness

Julie M. McCarthy; Berrin Erdogan; Talya N. Bauer; Selin Kudret; Emily Campion

doi:10.1177/01492063241313320

Back

All the Lonely People: An Integrated Review and Research Agenda on Work and Loneliness

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

All the Lonely People: An Integrated Review and Research Agenda on Work and Loneliness

Julie M. McCarthy, Berrin Erdogan, Talya N. Bauer, Selin Kudret and Emily Campion

Journal of management, Vol.52(1), pp.283-330

01/2026

DOI: 10.1177/01492063241313320

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063241313320View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Decades of studies spanning multiple disciplines have provided insight into the critical role of loneliness in work contexts. In spite of this extensive research, a comprehensive review of loneliness and work remains absent. To address this gap, we conducted a multidisciplinary review of relevant theory and research and identified 213 articles reporting on 233 empirical studies from management, organizational psychology, sociology, medicine, and other domains to uncover why people feel lonely, how different features of work can contribute to feelings of loneliness, and the implications of employee loneliness for organizational settings. This enabled a critical examination of the distinct conceptualizations and operationalizations of loneliness that have been advanced and the theories underpinning this scholarship. We developed a comprehensive conceptual model that integrates cognitive discrepancy theory, the affect theory of social exchange, and evolutionary theory. This model elucidates the core antecedents, mediators, outcomes, moderators, and interventions forming the nomological network of work related loneliness, including cross-level influences within teams and among leaders. Our review also identifies a number of promising areas for future inquiry to improve our understanding and measurement of loneliness, the process of experiencing and managing loneliness in the workplace, and potential interventions to reduce it. Finally, we provide tangible guidance for organizations and practitioners on how to address and mitigate employee loneliness. Ultimately, our review underscores the complex nature of loneliness and work and establishes a foundation for advancing both scholarly discourse and organizational practices in this critical domain.

emotions

social exchanges

well-being

work stress

health

social networks

groups

teams

networks

affect and emotions

job attitudes

Details

Title: Subtitle: All the Lonely People: An Integrated Review and Research Agenda on Work and Loneliness
Creators: Julie M. McCarthy - The Scarborough Hospital
Berrin Erdogan - Portland State University
Talya N. Bauer - Portland State University
Selin Kudret - University of Reading
Emily Campion - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of management, Vol.52(1), pp.283-330
DOI: 10.1177/01492063241313320
ISSN: 0149-2063
eISSN: 1557-1211
Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
Grant note: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada: 435-2024-0321 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
The authors would like to thank the associate editor, Devasheesh Bhave, and our anonymous reviewers for their insightful and constructive feedback, which significantly enhanced the quality and clarity of this review. This research was supported, in part, by a research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC #435-2024-0321) awarded to Julie McCarthy.
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 02/14/2025
Date published: 01/2026
Academic Unit: Management and Entrepreneurship
Record Identifier: 9984790994402771

Metrics

17 Record Views

18 Times Cited - Web of Science