Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non-academic contexts
Purpose Researcher mental health in emotionally demanding research (EDR) has been recognized as important, but research to date has often been limited to academic research contexts, qualitative research, or single disciplines. The aim of this study was to identify best practices to promote researche...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2464380 |
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| author | Mary L. Quinton Karen L. Shepherd Jennifer Cumming Grace Tidmarsh Maria R. Dauvermann Sian L. Griffiths Sally Reynard Amanda Skeate Anita Fernandes Tasneem Choucair James Downs Karen Harrison Dening Meghan H. McDonough Lizzie Mitchell Daniel J. A. Rhind Charlie Tresadern |
| author_facet | Mary L. Quinton Karen L. Shepherd Jennifer Cumming Grace Tidmarsh Maria R. Dauvermann Sian L. Griffiths Sally Reynard Amanda Skeate Anita Fernandes Tasneem Choucair James Downs Karen Harrison Dening Meghan H. McDonough Lizzie Mitchell Daniel J. A. Rhind Charlie Tresadern |
| author_sort | Mary L. Quinton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose Researcher mental health in emotionally demanding research (EDR) has been recognized as important, but research to date has often been limited to academic research contexts, qualitative research, or single disciplines. The aim of this study was to identify best practices to promote researchers’ mental health in EDR across academic and non-academic contexts. Methods Twenty-six researchers experienced in EDR (aged 33–64) were recruited across sectors and disciplines (e.g. sport psychology, palliative care, conflict resolution). Semi-structured online 2:1 interviews were conducted between October 2023 and January 2024. The co-designed interview guide asked questions on best practices at individual and contextual levels when undertaking EDR. Interviews were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three themes were generated: (1) the need for a psychologically informed research culture; (2) actions and principles in the immediate research environment; and (3) researcher boundaries with the research, others, and oneself. Underlying mechanisms across themes included tailored, iterative and flexible, and collaborative. Conclusions A shift is needed towards a more psychologically informed research culture to support mental health in EDR. Findings have implications for research organizations, conference organizers, and funders as greater resources are needed for researchers in EDR, regardless of method, discipline, or sector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-42f5ce834bae44acb65486dafa43662d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj-art-42f5ce834bae44acb65486dafa43662d2025-08-20T01:51:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312025-12-0120110.1080/17482631.2025.24643802464380Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non-academic contextsMary L. Quinton0Karen L. Shepherd1Jennifer Cumming2Grace Tidmarsh3Maria R. Dauvermann4Sian L. Griffiths5Sally Reynard6Amanda Skeate7Anita Fernandes8Tasneem Choucair9James Downs10Karen Harrison Dening11Meghan H. McDonough12Lizzie Mitchell13Daniel J. A. Rhind14Charlie Tresadern15University of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamBirmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation TrustMindProject Advisory GroupProject Advisory GroupProject Advisory GroupProject Advisory GroupUniversity of BirminghamLoughborough UniversityUniversity of BirminghamPurpose Researcher mental health in emotionally demanding research (EDR) has been recognized as important, but research to date has often been limited to academic research contexts, qualitative research, or single disciplines. The aim of this study was to identify best practices to promote researchers’ mental health in EDR across academic and non-academic contexts. Methods Twenty-six researchers experienced in EDR (aged 33–64) were recruited across sectors and disciplines (e.g. sport psychology, palliative care, conflict resolution). Semi-structured online 2:1 interviews were conducted between October 2023 and January 2024. The co-designed interview guide asked questions on best practices at individual and contextual levels when undertaking EDR. Interviews were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three themes were generated: (1) the need for a psychologically informed research culture; (2) actions and principles in the immediate research environment; and (3) researcher boundaries with the research, others, and oneself. Underlying mechanisms across themes included tailored, iterative and flexible, and collaborative. Conclusions A shift is needed towards a more psychologically informed research culture to support mental health in EDR. Findings have implications for research organizations, conference organizers, and funders as greater resources are needed for researchers in EDR, regardless of method, discipline, or sector.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2464380research culturepsychologically informedresearcher well-beingsensitive topicsemotional labourparticipatory action researchdeweyan pragmatismco-designbioecological approachlived experience |
| spellingShingle | Mary L. Quinton Karen L. Shepherd Jennifer Cumming Grace Tidmarsh Maria R. Dauvermann Sian L. Griffiths Sally Reynard Amanda Skeate Anita Fernandes Tasneem Choucair James Downs Karen Harrison Dening Meghan H. McDonough Lizzie Mitchell Daniel J. A. Rhind Charlie Tresadern Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non-academic contexts International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being research culture psychologically informed researcher well-being sensitive topics emotional labour participatory action research deweyan pragmatism co-design bioecological approach lived experience |
| title | Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non-academic contexts |
| title_full | Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non-academic contexts |
| title_fullStr | Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non-academic contexts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non-academic contexts |
| title_short | Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non-academic contexts |
| title_sort | best practices for supporting researchers mental health in emotionally demanding research across academic and non academic contexts |
| topic | research culture psychologically informed researcher well-being sensitive topics emotional labour participatory action research deweyan pragmatism co-design bioecological approach lived experience |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2464380 |
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