Prevalence and severity of mental health problems in early-career researchers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mental health concerns among early-career researchers (ECRs) have gained attention, but prevalence and severity estimates remain fragmented. Here we conducted a preregistered systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42024596813) to quantify psychological distress among ECRs. Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC and PubMed were searched through 28 October 2025, yielding 148 studies and four primary databases (k = 228; N = 138,446). On the basis of validated case-identification thresholds, 29.9% (95% confidence interval, 26.1-33.9%) of ECRs report elevated psychological distress across all outcomes. Specifically, pooled estimates indicated that 29.8% (26.1-33.8%) reported elevated depressive symptoms, 29.7% (25.7-33.8%) anxiety symptoms, 28.3% (23.6-33.3%) eating disorder symptoms, 22.9% (18.4-27.9%) alcohol misuse, 18.6% (14.4-23.2%) non-suicidal self-injury and 18.8% (15.2-22.6%) suicidal ideation. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was approximately two to three times higher and anxiety symptoms three to five times higher than in age-matched general-population samples. Symptom severity estimates, capturing mean symptom levels on continuous scales, on average were 'mild' for depressive and anxiety symptoms and 'moderate' for stress. Moderator analyses showed that outcome and scale type accounted for the largest share of variance, whereas demographic and individual characteristics had limited associations with prevalence and severity estimates. These findings underscore the need for structural reforms and implementation of evidence-based support services for ECRs.