A Scoping Review of Well-Being, Burnout, and Resilience of Female Academic Researchers in Africa

Abstract

This chapter summarises the existing evidence on the well-being, burnout, and resilience of female academic researchers in Africa. In Africa, these difficulties have been fuelled by historical legacies, sociopolitical upheavals, and resource restrictions. This review, based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model and Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, maps the causes of burnout, identifies coping methods and resilience-building processes, and summarises recommended solutions. The findings show that burnout is caused by a combination of domestic, institutional, and systemic demands, whereas resilience is promoted by individual psychological resources, agency, and structural support. Mindfulness programs, gender-sensitive task models, mentorship, and equal institutional policies are among the recommended solutions. Longitudinal research is necessary to track the career sustainability and long-term well-being of female academics, capturing the cumulative impact of systemic pressures over time.