Feelings of loneliness in women medical students

Despite recent increases in the number of women medical students, feelings of loneliness may continue to exist more among female than male students. The purpose of this study was to examine feelings of isolation with regard to the students' perceptions of the medical school environment, the local community, and the potential value of student support services. Questionnaire data obtained from 97.8 percent of the potential respondents indicated that females, in comparison with males, reported more feelings of isolation, found the community less apt to meet their needs, and expressed more negative reaction to sexist humor. Although few significant differences were found with regard to marital status, the patterns of responses showed that married women may experience more loneliness in medical school than single women. The results establish a need for continued attention to the feelings of loneliness in women medical students.