Factors and determinants of lecturers’ Well-Being: A scoping review across 15 countries

Well-being has become an increasingly prominent concern in higher education due to intensifying work demands, organizational change, and the accelerated pace of academic work. This study aimed to map and synthesise factors influencing well-being in university settings through a scoping review. Although research on lecturers' well-being has expanded, existing evidence remains fragmented, limiting a comprehensive understanding of the key factors shaping well-being in academic settings. A scoping review was conducted following established review stages using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) as guide, Population Concept Context (PCC). Literature searches were carried out in November 2025 using Google Scholar, Taylor & Francis, Springer, Emerald, and ScienceDirect. A total of 388 articles were identified, of which 20 open access studies, published between 2014 and 2025, English language articles met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies represented research conducted across 15 countries, including India, Finland, China, Spain, Portugal, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Poland, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) Job Demands in Higher Education: The Role of Organizational Change, (2) Work Resources for Lecturer Well-Being in Higher Education, and (3) Well-Being Outcomes in Academic Work Settings. The finding indicates that organizational change, including digitalisation and institutional restructuring, intensified job demands such as workload, publication pressure, and role ambiguity were consistently associated with stress and burnout. Meanwhile, work resources including autonomy, social support, leadership support, and professional development opportunities served as protective factors that promoted lecturers’ well-being and positive work outcomes. The review demonstrates that lecturers' well-being is primarily shaped by the interaction between organizational change, job demands, and work resources. These findings provide a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence and highlight the importance of managing organizational change, reducing excessive job demands, and strengthening institutional resources to foster sustainable well-being in higher education.