13. Loneliness in Medical Families: Why Connection Matters More Than Ever with Emily Kent, PhD

Loneliness in Medical Families: Why Connection Matters More Than Ever: How Stress, Belonging, and Social Connection Shape Health for Physician Spouses Loneliness is one of the most common — and least talked about — experiences in medical families. In this episode of The MedLife Support Podcast, host Dr. Lisa sits down with Dr. Emily Kent, an experimental psychologist, loneliness researcher, and physician spouse, to explore why loneliness shows up so often in life in medicine — and how it impacts both emotional and physical health. Building on themes first explored in Episode 4: Loneliness in Medical Marriages, this conversation deepens the discussion through a research lens. Drawing from Dr. Kent's work on loneliness, stress, and belonging, Lisa and Emily reframe loneliness not as weakness, but as a biological signal for connection. They discuss why physician spouses can feel lonely even in full, high-functioning lives, how chronic stress affects the body, and small, research-backed ways medical families can strengthen connection at home and in their communities. to go even deeper on the topic of loneliness in physician families, check out Episode 25 The Hidden Loneliness No One Talks About in Medical FAmilies with Dr. James Ellis (@lonelinessdoctor) Learn more about Dr. Emily Kent and her research: ·       LinkedIn ·       Google Scholar  ·       Selected publications: Optimal Well-Being Interventions for Surgeons: Beyond Physiologic Needs Evidence-Based Recommendations and Emerging Novel Solutions to Reduce Burnout Loneliness is Associated with Decreased Support and Increased Strain Given in Social Relationships Surgeon Burnout and Relationships: A Missing Component in the Ongoing Conversation Subscribe for compassionate, research-informed conversations about physician burnout, marriage in medicine, and family well-being.