A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review of Factors Associated With Wellbeing in the UK Dementia Social Care Workforce

This mixed-methods systematic review aims to synthesise current research to identify the risk and protective factors of wellbeing in the dementia social care workforce. Seven databases were searched in April 2024 for evidence published between January 2003 and April 2024, focusing on the risk and protective factors for wellbeing in the dementia social care workforce. Titles, abstracts and full text articles were screened by two reviewers. A deductive thematic analysis and narrative synthesis was performed on extracted data to reveal four themes. 5,237 qualitative and quantitative records regarding the dementia social care workforce in the UK were screened. 13 studies were included. Taking an ecological systems approach, risk and protective factors of wellbeing in the dementia social care were narratively synthesised into key themes including structural factors, interpersonal factors, personal attributes and factors generating a systemic sense of value. Our findings indicate that dementia social care workers experience many risk and protective factors to their wellbeing at multiple levels. Whilst these factors for wellbeing were categorised into themes, these often overlapped and should be considered together when addressing wellbeing in the dementia social care workforce. Therefore, a multisystem approach is required to fully address the wellbeing of the dementia social care workforce.