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The impact of working in academia on researchers’ mental health and well-being: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis

Nicholls, Helen, Nicholls, Matthew, Tekin, Sahra, Lamb, Danielle, Billings, Jo·2022·PLOS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0268890PMC PMC9132292
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Abstract

Objective: To understand how researchers experience working in academia and the effects these experiences have on their mental health and well-being, through synthesizing published qualitative data. Method: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted to gain a comprehensive overview of what is currently known about academic researchers’ mental health and well-being. Relevant papers were identified through searching electronic databases, Google Scholar, and citation tracking. The quality of the included studies was assessed and the data was synthesised using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: 26 papers were identified and included in this review. Academic researchers’ experiences were captured under seven key themes. Job insecurity coupled with the high expectations set by the academic system left researchers at risk of poor mental health and well-being. Access to peer support networks, opportunities for career progression, and mentorship can help mitigate the stress associated with the academic job role, however, under-represented groups in academia are at risk of unequal access to resources, support, and opportunities. Conclusion: To improve researchers’ well-being at work, scientific/academic practice and the system’s concept of what a successful researcher should look like, needs to change. Further high-quality qualitative research is needed to better understand how systemic change, including tackling inequality and introducing better support systems, can be brought about more immediately and effectively. Further research is also needed to better understand the experiences and support needs of post-doctoral and more senior researchers, as there is a paucity of literature in this area. Trial registration: The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO ( CRD42021232480) .

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Fig 1 PRISMA diagram reporting the process of identification, screening, and selection of papers for inclusion in the review.
Fig 1 PRISMA diagram reporting the process of identification, screening, and selection of papers for inclusion in the review.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig 2 A visual representation of the main themes and sub-themes identified through the meta-synthesis.
Fig 2 A visual representation of the main themes and sub-themes identified through the meta-synthesis.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Metadata

Authors
Nicholls, H., Nicholls, M., Tekin, S., Lamb, D., & Billings, J.
Venue
PLOS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2022-05-25
Volume
17
Issue
5
Pages
e0268890
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0268890
PMC
PMC9132292
Cited by
147
References
4
Language
en
Licence
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)
Funders
  • Bloomsbury Colleges Studentship (ES/P000592/1)
  • The McPin Foundation (ES/P000592/1)

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