Psychosocial determinants of mental health and psychological support strategies among physicians in the post-pandemic period: a systematic review with thematic synthesis

Abstract

Preserving the mental health of the medical profession is a critical pillar for the resilience of post-pandemic health systems. This systematic review, conducted under the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, assessed the psychosocial determinants of burnout and the support mechanisms reported between 2021 and 2025. A search of PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science yielded a sample of 32 eligible articles submitted for thematic synthesis. The findings shift the focus from direct epidemiological concerns to underlying structural failures, positioning burnout as the core of a complex psychopathological framework that exacerbates comorbidities such as insomnia, emotional distress, and affective disorders. This clinical picture is catalyzed by latent organizational factors: excessive workload, staff shortages, and institutional neglect. Furthermore, evidence shows that individual interventions—mindfulness, coaching, or digital support—offer merely palliative relief and lose effectiveness if they operate disconnected from fundamental operational reforms. It is concluded that there is an urgent need to transition towards multi-level protection models that link psychological surveillance with protective leadership and shift redesign, elevating occupational health to the category of a strategic indicator of healthcare safety.