Exploring the Dimensions of Managerial Loneliness in the Public Sector (Design and Validation of a Measurement Scale)

Hassanpoor, Akbar; Jafarinia, Saeed; Tehrani, Maryam; Ebrahimi, Sareh

doi:10.22034/jhrs.2025.512886.2386

Exploring the Dimensions of Managerial Loneliness in the Public Sector (Design and Validation of a Measurement Scale)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Akbar Hassanpoor ¹

Saeed Jafarinia ¹

Maryam Tehrani ²

Sareh Ebrahimi ³

¹ Associate Prof., Department of HRM, Faculty of Management, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

² Assistant Prof., Department of HRM, Faculty of Management, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

³ . Ph.D., Department of HRM, Faculty of Management, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22034/jhrs.2025.512886.2386

Abstract

Background & Purpose: A review of previous studies indicates a lack of a comprehensive understanding and a valid measure for measuring managerial loneliness. This study sought to answer the question of what managers in the public sector experience of loneliness in the workplace, what their experience is, and what dimensions of managerial loneliness are? How can these dimensions be measured? Identifying the dimensions of managerial loneliness and designing a scale to measure it are among the main objectives of this study.
Methodology: This study is applied-developmental in terms of research orientation, and mixed (qualitative-quantitative) in terms of research approach. In the qualitative part, using the Glasery data-based approach and interviews with managers (16 professional managers appointed in executive agencies subject to the Civil Service Management Law in Tehran, in the groups of senior manager, middle manager, basic manager, and operational manager), dimensions of loneliness were identified through theoretical and accessible sampling. In the quantitative part, the indicators were validated using the Delphi fuzzy screening technique and confirmatory factor analysis. The structural equation model is one of the quantitative methods used in this study.
Findings: In the qualitative part, based on semi-structured interviews with 16 public sector managers, we distinguished between two dimensions of managerial loneliness. 1. Feeling of lack and deficiency in terms of work relationships; 2. Feeling of lack and deficiency in terms of non-work relationships. The feeling of lack and deficiency in the manager's non-work relationships is expressed by the feeling of lack of authentic relationships, the feeling of lack of belonging-oriented relationships, the feeling of lack of intimate relationships, the feeling of lack of Secure Relationships, and the feeling of lack of empathetic relationships. The dimension of feeling of lack and deficiency in work relationships includes the feeling of lack of legitimate relationships, the feeling of lack of expert and professional relationships, the feeling of lack of supportive relationships, and the feeling of lack of integrity relationships. In the quantitative part, a questionnaire designed using the fuzzy Delphi method and confirmatory factor analysis method was examined.
Conclusion: This study provides a better understanding of managerial loneliness by providing a valid measure and paves the way for more detailed studies in the future. In addition, the design and validation of the managerial loneliness measurement scale can prevent possible deviations in future studies.

Keywords

Workplace loneliness

Managerial loneliness

Measurement scale

Mixed-methods research

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