Organizational Loneliness in Educational Institutions. A Social Network Analysis Approach

Background : This study, which aims to examine the causes and consequences of organizational isolation in schools with the help of social network analysis, is included in the embedded explanatory pattern model, which is one of the mixed method models. Methods : The research was conducted in the 2022-2023 academic year in the center of Erzurum, Turkey, on ten schools selected by purposeful sampling method. Results : According to the results of the research, while organizational loneliness is not seen in small schools, there are individuals experiencing loneliness in large schools. The main reason for these individuals' loneliness is their social relationships and communication at school. Individuals who become lonely have a negative perception of social relations at school and isolate themselves from school activities and communication. As a result of this situation, negative consequences such as exclusion, burnout, lack of belonging, mobbing and pessimism emerge. Conclusions: Even if the culture, climate and structure of the school are positive, individuals may experience loneliness. The reason for this is the meaning that individuals attach to social relations at school.